Gilpin observer., 1913-08-14
HISTORY OF THE
ITALiAN-TURkISH WAR
A Lesson Showing the Urgent Nee
egsity Of an Adequate v. 8. Navy.

Sept. 29th, 1911, to Oct. 18th, 1912.
Italy's surplus population and pro-
gressive development required her to
take coveted Tripolitana as diplomati-
cally conceded to Italy by European
powers. There was no cause for the
war-but Italians were stronger by
sea, than the Turks, who weaken
ed by this war-were then expelled
by Balkan allies. During the war, the
Turks deposed their Young Turk gov
ernment because that political party
had neglected to provide an adequate
navy during peaoe before the war.
In contrast-last year-1912, Eng
land concentrated her fleet in North
Sea and threatened war with Ger
many to suppress her commercial
competition, but found her better pre-
pared to invade England than was
Italy to invade Tripoli-England re-
Trained from war.
England owns the SueZ canal and
has now KINELY reduced the Suez
canal tolls to compete with Panama.
She dictates our canal policy and pro-
tests against our coastwise commerce
exemption. Falsely so-called peace
lead in disarmament, but when we
disarm she will compel us to favor
British and American commerce thro
Panama because commerce is vit.ll
for England and Only luxury for GeT-
many. The English feel that they are
entitled to a monopoly of comme' co.
The Japanese in 1913 are better
prepared to invade our Pacific coast
than was Italy to invade Tripoli. Tha
oceans no longer protect us from: n
vasions over sea, but facilitates IL.
transportation of troops in mode n
ships is recreation for soldiers, wto
arrive at landing refreshed and well
armed to be opposed by exhausted
defenders, hastily summoned frohr
distant points to operate under ~
most every disadvantage. The Jap
anese can easily take the Philippines
They can transport 10000 veterans
to our Pacific shores as easily as
we send troops to the Philip f:a-
Our small navy now in he P"cifi'
would be eluded or held in check and
our difficulty in getting ten thousand
U. S. troops on the Mexican border
last year shows that we are not pre-
pared. The Arabians, though inspir-
ed by religious fanatacism to expel
infidel invaders could not resist the
Italian naval bombardments. The Jap
anese know these facts. They pro-
test against California alien land
laws but are silent about~the more
rigid japanese exclusion from Aus
tralia because the British navy is
adequate. They MAY attempt inva-
sion of California to conquer our race
prejuoices for which they would ex-
act huge war indemnity that we
would pay and, altho after suffering
that humiliation. we would finally ex-
pei the invaders, it would be at
cost thousand times more than nee
essary to provide an adequate navy
to make this impossible.
The history of the world in all
ages shows that the weak are a prey
to the strong man armed as was Tur-
key and as China has been. Treat
les are not respected unless backed
by adequate force. They are sacred
only in theory and are annulled when
desired by either party as We abrogat
ed our treaty with Russia without
Russian consent. Germany deems it
wiser to be prepared. She is the
only nation that has not had war
since 1871 because she was ready.
The construction of armaments and
war materials has not been ruinous
for Germany but has enriched her.
Her compulsory military and naval
services are schools that have edu-
Gated the people to lead in modern
industrial progress. Blessings in
deed. so that Germans prosper bet
ter at home and no longer migrate.
We nuts heed the infallible teaching
of our Savior who created all Great
ures with means CT attack and de-
fence. All lie is constant war. We
kill to eat. Why should we pull out
our teeth? Men and nations of men
cannot exist without police protec-
tion and armed forces. When unset
fish love prevails universally and the
peace of God rules the hearts of all
people and creatures, we may abol-
ish the police, armies and navies,
but not before.
w. II. BEBI1LIER,
Commodore. U. S. n.