New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-23
THE CRIME OF THE UNREADY
An American Abroad Pleads for an
Adequate Army and Navy.
ditor Of The Tribune.

/ To the Editor Of The Tribune
! Sir. \ million OF men are in their
graves to-day who went there prema-
turely on account of the true American
/ insanity. "pique at the military Hun
dreds Of thousands Of homes were ruined
/ in 6l-'65. with the lives OF their owners,
! all because the poor, dear home of free
| dom was stark mad
An army trained and efficient 10 the
last degree is the sole efficient guarantee
! OF prace-and without IL all diplomacy il
| but talk-a universal rule, first taught
| to all beginners. Is il conceivable that
our diplomats do not know it, Poor, in
fatuated people-the best hearted living
the most energetic and generous people
in the world" $50 The London Spec
tator.D II il had possessed a barely de-
cent army-even a paltry 3oo00o-the war
of 1861 would have been closed in half its
actual time They dread "mllltariSm':
do they? II is exactly the one only thing
they need. with its discipline. The writer
met a United States soldier from Cuba
| I'm 1895. IT didn't inconvenience me in the
least" he said in a quiet, manly dignity
and good voice neither nasal nor with
twang.
No wonder that Lord Wolseley Owas il
heJ said that the American army was
the best in the world go also The Spec
tator" latelyp. \ back handed compli-
ment that. A picked handful OF the finest
men among a hundred millions, No won
der that they are what they are. But
L.
not too late CsiX weeks might make a
soldier" some would say. see Japan!
The laughter OF the world is on us-with
their delight
No police. Lightly syllablng the high
est pretensons with the united world in
a broad though plying grin. The largest
next but one-of civilized nations. the
richest 10y all manner Of means-the most
intelligent-even in the finest point OF
highest literature Whitney of New
Haven, was and il. though dead, the
first authority i'm all Germany on Sanskrt
grammar. the fountain of discoveries.
Poor. beloved. crazy multitude. Asylums
say that madmen are what they are on
one only subject. We are sane on all
things save police" Even dear old
Spain had to wait for her mild beating
till our army could get some trousers.
did they hght-some of them-with muz-
zle-loaders and smoking powder?)
They will not build any more ships to
save their canal: the worlds great
miracle. destroyed forever i'm Il fortnight.
sulferings worse than I'm 1915; but, alas.
no shame, We are not ashamed TO lie ut
the mercy OF any two powers. How they
must dospise us-chucking at our craze.
Hundreds OF miles of seaboard almost de-
fenceless. Why not, at least. hold re-
views and sham fights with our militia
that might be something. \ half-formed
fleet unfit To meet the Channel squadron
so said in England. Finest ships In the
world. but not more than one-third
enough But there is little use-"whom
the gods would destroy they first make
mad" \ DEVOTED AMERICAN.
London, Dee. TO- 1913
T.. S.-The German army has saved
more life. health and property than all
the wars OF Napoleon destroyed They
are all gymnasts. the Germans-and they
can swim; hear that ye brave cod fishers
of New England They are examined
monthly by the surgeon-they are trimmed
for life-and beget stout children. Good
armies are worth three times what they
cost for health, property and peace They
turn human beings into men.