The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-10
STRONG DEFENCES DO NOT
MAKE FOR WAR, SAYS TAI I

RosroN. Dec Sex President Taft in
an address before the Heptorcau club AT
Somcrvilla tonight declared himself as
pleased az the recently revived public In
terest IN the state Of our national d"fences
Al the same time he took issue with those
who oppose military and naval offences
OF the country on the ground that they
make for war.
at does not seem TO me TO be a reason
able optimism" said Mr.. taft. 80 expect
that in this day and generation. by treaty
or arbitration. the possibility OF war can
he removed.
"'rhe present war has brought about a
paradox. II has aroused great interest in
our defences, our own navy. our own army
and our own coast fortiications. and has
given rise 20 some expressions that ind
cate "A mild hysteria This AT a time when
10y reason Of the present war the necessity
for such defence IL probably less than It
has been for several decades past.
The speaker explained that II was in
conceivable that the victor In this present
war, which may last one or two years.
will want any more fighting
81 am glad, however" he continued,
that attention IL being directed 10 the de-
fects in our national defences. whether tho
motives for arousing II may be or part-
san political character or not. The truth
is that the chiefs OF bureaus OF the War
Department have been reporting to Con-
gross for a number OF years the d.fcien-
cies IN our military and naval preparation.
Il cannot sympathize with those sin
cere gentlemen who oppose military ana
naval defences for this country IN the
ground that they will make for war |
do not think so. There ~ no disposition
on the part of all our people to have an
affirmative war or a war of conquest
! There are factions utterly wanton and
reckless In provoking war 20 accomplish
their own small purpose, The attitude "
the American people a. a whole during
tho Mexican "muss" has been that of
great national self-restraiut, and they are
10 be commended FOR Il.
1T seems to me 'ha; those who oppose
adequate dcfonceS for our country eNhibl;
an optimism without u reasonable view
of the facts We hav" between us and
| Europe an ocean 200 miles in width
/ This IL a tremendous advantage for us In
the matter OF defence against military ag-
erosion. hut We should take reasonable
steps TO give II military effectiveness.
"Such steps W. can take without doing
anything inconsistent with the policy of a
| peaceful nation We can do without a
navy larger than that which Il was the
! policy of several administrations before
| this to maintain, kept up to date with
modern Recommendation of offence and
defence We can do il by making the
needed appropriations for ammunition and
! artillery, ana ny an increase OF our army
| proportional TO the new calls upon the
/ army in the last decade that ia, by an
increase of from % 10 80 per cent All
| this is possible In n short time and without
enormous or extravagant expenditures
we have extensive fortincRti1ns on The
| Isthmus to protect the canal. We have
extensive fortihcations ~ Honolulu al,o
to protect our canal and the Pacific trad
and We have extensive .ortinca,ious a.
/ h.. Of o.. A. ia,