New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-20
POPPYCoCK!
So Reader Designstes the Danger
of Our Being Attacked.

/ To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The persons who arc urging
an investigation into the military pre-
raredness of the United States cry
that they want an efficient army and
a powerful navy for defence" Alas
so are they all-"armies of defence
Thus said the militarists of Germany
thus the militarists Of France and
England, and now come our good
friends from the National Security
League and tell US that we must arm
ourselves.
Why? Against whom must we de-
fend ourselves? The German hordes
The Yellow Peril? Poppycock! No
matter who is victor in the present
conflict, all the countries will be so
exhausted in resources and men that
they will be fortunate if they can keep
themselves together-let alone cross
the Atlantic Ocean and swoop down
upon the poor, weak little United
I States. Burdened beyond measure with
taxation and extra debt, weakened by
battles and the paralyzing of agrl-
culture, industry and commerce, with
woful gaps i'm the ranks, loaded with
pied what could Germany or England
or any power do? That is to say, If
they wanted to do something to us;
but do they? Does Germany want TO
control and dominate our country
Won't the Continent of Europe satisfy
her for a few centuries at least?
And as for Japan. the so-called yell
low Peril is an imaginary, purely arti--
fetal creation of the lingo papers and
the lingo men--the men who want 20
seem brave and strong by appealing
to national patriotism, by clarifying
national power, national strength, and
by manufacturing wholesale rumors as
to horrible inyasions by the Japanese;
by filling people with dread of some
vague. imaginary enemy; by making a
real friendly power seem TO be our
inevitable enemy, our dastardiy foe In
the struggle for national existence.
Our militaristic friend fails 10 tell you
that Japan has not increased her bud
get for the navy this year and that
she has been on the best of terms
with us throughout.
The militarist argues that we should
increase our army and navy. But
would this make our armed forces
more efficient in comparison TO any
foe that we might come in conflict
with? No. or course not; for If We
add four dreadnoughts, then Japan
will add four dreadnoughts to her navy,
and relatively We will still be just as
weak, or just as strong. We will have
spent millions of dollars. incurred
debt of tremendous proportions, and,
above all. aroused jingoism and mutual
hatred in Japan and the United States,
when there is no ground for anything
Dut the best Of international relations
we will have done all this, and still
nothing toward making our navy more
efficient. which seems to be the goal
Of our militarists.
The only justification for increasing
our armament is the likelihood of in
Sasion. And if there is no such like
lihood, and, Furthermore, if such in
crease will not augment the Wanted
military efficiency" then why all this
talk of war preparation. why all this
investigation, why all this tommyrot,
which will only have the worst effect
upon our country? If we adopt mill
tarism-- although we may call it "mili-
tary efiiclency"-we are playing with
fire, we are beginning the terrible
journey of military power increasing
every year. militarism growing strong
er and stronger until it will lead to
Bankruptcy or TO calamitous war, or
10 both. VI. LINCOLN SCHUSTER.
Columbia University, New York, Dec
II, 1914.