The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-20
Miscellany
Are We Ready for War?
tcharlton Bates strayer. in Leslie's.) )

(CNaTltOl Bates SlId9eI, III lJe=l!e -
Sincerely seeking 10 prevent war be-
tween this country and Mexico. that IS
the one thing which President Wilson's
policy seems now 10 make inevitable. We
don't want II, but are we preparing for 1t
should II be forced upon US? Have We
counted the cost2 That there is some ap-
probation of the possibilities OF war is
shown in the bill for volunteer force
that has just passed the house OF rep
resentat!ves with a rush. Should u pass
the senate without important amend
ments, the president will have available
242. 900 volunteers in addition TO the reg
ular army and militia, In the event OF
hostllities. A, bill similar 10 this has
been floating around In congress Tor a
number OF ysars-ever since the Fifty
ninth congress. indeed-untii now In the
irst few days OF the regular session OF
the present congress II is hurried through.
Other nations realize our unprepared-
ness for war " we do not We are so
rich, 40 self-confdent, so powerful in pos
sibilities that we have failed TO see that
our great strength is potential only. A
couple Of years ago we attempted to moo
ilize al San Antonio n war strength di
vision OF the army. II took us three full
weeks 10 get $1,000 men there from all
parts OF the country. and this was 5000
short OF war footing for 4 division We
do not have now, despite the mistakes
policy. In the event OF war. the first
thing necessary would be passage OF new
laws by congress and this would mean
hasty and ill-cousidered legislation by 4
premium While we were getting ready
to fight, nation prepared for way be-
foTehand might secure military odvan-
tages difficult or impossible TO overcome
Have We counted the cost? 4 war with
Mexico VIII cost us 81 600 600 000-enough
10 dig two more Panama canals II we
needed them. What preparations are we
making 10 meet this tremendous burden?
f,CTTparlr lpa already fakpU efG1g
crease rs war chest from $4,000. coo 10
$50, 900 900 gold.
The financial cost Of war is not its
most horrible feature. but i IS one of
the greatest burdens placed upon A coun-
try. Foresight such as Japan practiced
In the war with Russia, and such a Ger
many Is exercising IN advance OF the pos
slbIltty Of war. helps greatly TO relieve
the people OF the suffering and lncon-
venicnce that business feels In time OF
war panic and during war. Great Brit
aims experience in the South African
war IS IN example OF the loss that comes
from lack Of prepara ton. Mr.. Crammond
cites the opinion OF a number OF Lord
EiGln's commission 10 the effect that n
the British war office had had n sum OF
10000. 600 placed at its disposal a few
months before the outbreak Of hostll-
ties. preparations could have been made
which would have reduced trc cost OF The.
war br probably not less than $500 900. 600
even II u had not prevented the Bocrs
from declaring war"
Turning 10 the United States. We. too
have never had war which did not ro-
veal the folly or unprcpa rcdncSs. What
arc VIC doing 20 prepare Tor the almost
Inevitable conflict with NeNiCo2 TIuyiue
begun q waiting policy with Hueria.
President Wilson seems rot uot2 20 hn
inclined 10 change IL: but this docs not
Justify waiting policy IN The matter OF
putting the army ou n fchiiDr BASH or
of making that financial prcraration
which Ht'i couuta-ari tho tendency 10 2.
panic should tho war cloud break Tho
administration policy toward Mexico has
been "a walt and 80 drift All the shore
signs indicate moro and moro clearly ov-
cry passing hou~ HAT VIC arc drifting 20.
ward Var II war ~ must Dc. r-e-,- da,
Or dcisv In prcra ration means added bf,r-
dcus placed urcn orr p"opIc.-I .cslie'e
Weekly.