The Washington times., 1914-11-12
ABILITY TODEFEND
GUARDS NEUTRALITY
Infantry Journal Says United
States Should Be Ready to
Protect Rights.

t'Our neutrality must rely for protec-
tien, not on academic considerations,
but on our resolution to maintain If and
our ability to defend it, says the In
fantry Journal the official organ OF
the United States Infantry Association,
published by the officers of that arm OF
the regular army. IN an article on
The European War" the position of
the United States as the greatest OF the
neutral powers is dicussed.
The international complications in
Europe" the Infantry Journal says.
are attracting the serious attention OF
the civilized world. and none is wise
enough to see how they may terminate
or who may eventually be involved.
There is no lack of professional inter-
est among military men as to the les
sons that may be learned In respect to
modern military organization arma-
ihent, and equipment.
"Our Government has competent rep
resentatives in the field who VIII keep
il Informed as to that which Ii is need
full for Ii to note in the way OF mill
tary development ashore and afioat. But
even professional interest is oVershad-
owed by the magnitude Of the other IN.
terests involved and by the gravity OF
the results that may follow in the wake
of war.
Happily. owing to our geographical
situation, We are not Immediately con-
cerned in these serious events ana tne
Presidents proclamation enjoining an
observance of strict neutrality upon our
countrymen should fall on receptive
ears and warn us to meet our opIea-
tions as neutrals with calmness, WIS
dom. and self-control. Delicate ques-
lions may come up touching our rela-
ton with the belligerents, out IL is
earnestly hoped that none may arse
that will disturb the friendly relations
which exist between us and our nelen-
bors the continuance OF Whfch is now
of the greatest importance, not ON! 'o
US but to humanity in general
'sRut while we may reasonably nope
that the political storm that has broken
may not travel i'm this direction, that
the clash of arms may be confined to
distant shores, is il not the part OF
rudence that We should put our house
In order? History teaches us that pei-
Igerents engaged in struggle 1or eA-
,stence are not overscrupuious In thelr
regard for the rights of neutrals. A
hundred years ago we went TO the
greatest lengths to preserve our neutral
ity While making the s.ncerest ef-
forts to preserve a strictly neutral at
titude our rights received but scant
recognition from the two great powers
that were contending for the mastery
of Europe. Eventually war of a more
or less covert nature existed between
us and both of. the belligerents.
For many years we maintained an
uncertain peace that was Illuminating 10
our self-respect, only to. be plunged
into war in the end. Prudence forbids
US TO believe that similar conditions
may not rise again. We shall maintain
our neutrality no less effectively, We
shall promote the cause of peace no
less surely, by being prepared to act
with vigor and promptness il the occa-
sion calls for it.
There are many points at which our
pacific interests come in touch with the
interests of powerful belligerents. Let
us be prepared to guard our rights eff
fectively Eternal vigilance is the price
of peace as well as liberty"