The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-13
come pretty near commanding the
peace of the world.
UNPREPARED, ALWAYS.

| |
this country in case of war. and they
dwell earnestly upon the inadequate
ness of The forces that the United
States could bring to bear to repel n
serious invasion. They insist that the
country is unprepared for war, aud
country were drained of troops and
militia in order 10 protect the west
coast, would still be woefully deficient
to do the work, which is natly pro-
nouuced TO be practically impossible
with any forces that we could imme-
diately assemble.
All this is an old story. quite true,
quito trite, aud exactly in line with
tho experience which the United States
has had in all of its wars. There has
never been a time when VIC were pre-
pared for war. In fact. we make IL a
specially to be unprepared, And then,
when there is a serious war, such as
the War OF the Rebellion turned out
10 be, we havo armies to make and
season while the war is in progress.
This involves sickening loss Of the
lives of men, and waste of money
and material that goes far TO drain
the financial and material resources OF
the country
But what would You have7 We are
determined not to be prepared for war.
We arc determined not TO be war
power We see our Congress refusing
to keep up the navy, even to tho COM
parative war strength to which it at
| tanned some four or five ycras ago. It
really is deteriorating, as ships alawys
do deteriorate, and we are falling be-
hind in naval power, Time was whom
we were good second to Great Brit
ain. long way second. TO be sure.
but still in advance of any other pow
CT. We have now been considerably
overpassed by Germany; and Japan,
in the laying down Of three new
per-dreadnoughts, will in the next
two years Come very near catching UP
with US in sea-power, provided our
Congress maintains its present attitude
IN opposition to the navy. 1t is true
that with the opening Of the Panama
canal. probably within the year, what
ever sea-force we have will be avail
able on either the Atlantic or the Pa
cifc at need. But if the total sea-
force is kept down to its present linn
its. or below, it will not be Of much
service to US in the face OF a superior
naval power with which we might be
al war.
And so our unpreparedness not only
continues, but is spreading to the navy.
1t is 4 hopeless business to get this
country walked up to the danger of
war until war is actually upon us; and
then we kill and disable our men by
the scores of thousands in tho making
OF an army, to far greater degree
than any enemy can possibly do. But
it Is price that we have to pay for
unpreparedness. and we seem not only
quite willing but determined to pay
that price. All that any ono can do
is to point out the Inevitable results
of unpreparedness. The country. how
ever, refuses TO consider explanations
and expositions Of that kind. These
have been made time after time. but |
with no effect. When made by army
officers, the pleas are dismissed with |
a sneer ms something that the military
men want for their own advantage to |
build up big army so that they can |
enjoy the benefits of command and |
parade in the gorgeous trappings of |
war. When presented by civilians, the |
reply ig that the civilian doesn' Il know
what he is talking about, And so the |
is met on both ends of the |
line with sneers. These sneers cost |
the country tremendously, but those |
who make them care little about It, |
because they are not the ones who |
suffer. The ones who take the brunt |
of the unpreparedness are the patri- |
otic, the willing. the self-sacrifcing |
the men who love the Republic and who |
are so devoted TO the flag that they |
are willing TO offer their lives for it's |
protection. But these are scorned |
class until the time comes when they |
are needed, and then all sorts of prom |
lses are made to them, which In the |
fplfillment call forth many a crumble |
and reproach in after years. Just as |
the men who went TO the front in the |
War OF the Rebellion are and have
been for many years subject to con.
and reproach because Of the
pensions which they draw. Those pom
sions, however, were not only freely |
promised, during the time OF stress. but |
Immensely more. was promised than has |
ever been granted, as the taking care
of the soldiers families. seeing that
they never wanted, and all that sort of |
thing. which promise was mostly neg.
lected after the volunteers were safeIv
enrolled and had gone to the front.
Our trained military experts arc
sounding the usual note OF alarm. It
is an alarm that ought TO be needed |
ard that ought TO cause Congress 10
act instantly and effectiyeI1 hv v,,.,--