davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

even then preparing for his French
visit.
There are other voices. Professor
Lavisse IS no sensationalist nor vision
airy. but a serious historian and pub
licist. and he has been writing for the
British public in favor Of an alliance.
Mr.. Pichon, too, is a serious and au-
thoritatiye statesman, who has been
Foreign Minister in several French
cabinets, and who has the confidence
of the majority Of the French nation.
Tie is outspoken in favor Of an alliance,
not merely between Great Britain and
France. but comprising all three mem
bers Of the present entente cordiale.
Nor are there any important counter
voices. 1t is true that Sir Edward
Grey has dwet with satisfaction upon
the freedom from binding obligations
which Great Britain enjoys under the
present arrangement. But nobody
realizes more clearly than he that the
value of such an arrangement must be
commensurate with It's obligations. IL
is not supposable that he would oppose
the making of an alliance, or that any
considerable opposition would be mani
tested In any important quarter.
The United Kingdom Seems, then. TO
be reconciled TO a reversal OF the policy
Of nearly a century. For since the time
Of Canning there has been no alliance
with a Continental power save for
temporary purposes. OF course there
has been the japanese alliance. 1t was
an anomaly for Great Britain to make
hard and fast alliance with an
Asiatic power and hold herself aloof
from making any with European pow
ers, and there seems TO be feeling
that that anomaly Is about to be
ended.
But the alliance, If 1t comes. Will,
like the entente. be threefold 1t will
be another Triple Alliance.
In view of that obvious fact II is in
teresting to note that the third member
OF the prospective Triplice is at this
moment INDUCING in quite unprec-
edented display of military prowess.
A fortnight ago the Russian govern
ment ordered a test mobilization" TO
begin last week and to continue for the
rest of the month. This might be lik-
ened to a fire drill In school. 1t is a
summoning of the military forces of the
reserves are called out, OF whom there
are now more than half million with
empire 10 a war footing. Even the
the colors. 1t is such gathering of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
WOULD RESCUE EUROPE FROM
UNPLEASANT SITUATION.

There is, indeed, one of the strongest
Of reasons for doing so, and 1t is the
one which has been publicly stated as
the purpose of Germany's prospective
action. That is the relief of Europe
from the role of Weary Titan, which
every day is becoming more nearly in
tolerable' The military situation in
Europe Is, in fact, almost beyond pop
ular comprehension. Mention of the
magnitude of ornaments is a good deal
like statement of the interstellar
spaces. The human mind can scarcely
grasp such numbers.
Russia, for example. Her increase
this year has been the most sensational
Of all, and she is just now showing it
eff TO the world. With her new scheme
of retaining the fourth class with the
colors for three months longer than
formerly she has swelled her peace
establishment TO the quite unprece-
denied numbers of something over |. =
100000. With the dismissal of the
fourth class, which would have oc-
CURED last week but for the test mob
ilization." the numbers would have re-
coded to 100000. But the govern
ment has provided against that with
new legislation which Will keep the
peace establishment up to 100000 the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
FREDERICK PALMER.

Disarmament under present condi-
tons Is an idle dream. Advocates or
such idealism are doubtless prompted
by the highest Of altruistic motives
but even If We as a nation and world
mower Of importance had, for the sake
OF argument. reached that high state OF
ethical perfection which placed us on
plane OF idealism high above the rest
Of the civilized world. we would be
strangely Isolated both in our righteous
ness and defencelessness.
L have known many professional
soldiers of many nationalities, and in
variably | have found that the best OF
them are working as assiduously for
peace as the most violent propaganda,
though, OF necessity, along different
lines
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

NO army that worked as hard In
peace ~ the average manufacturer or
bridge builder was ever beaten In bat
tie n It fought anything like equal
numbers The officer who works hard
in the army deserves more credit than
he would I'm any other profession, be-
cause the incentive for results seems
remote. But what a terrible test OF
results may be made in a single hour
action. There is nothing he has learned
or ever will learn that may not be OF
service TO him. There is no invention,
no form Of industrial organization that
must not be included I'm the greatest
organization OF all whose plant and
method must be up 10 date In every
particular. To be backward In single
particular may mean disaster and may
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
ASSUMED MENTAL ATTITUDE OF
OTHER SIDE,

The fellowship Of campaigning made
the cause Of the force that ! accom-
panied mine for the time being Yet in
the midst Of battle, with the detach-
ment Of a non -combatant marvelling at
the irony OF two lines OF men engaged
in an effort at mutual determination,
have caught myself thinking with the
other side. I knew why my side was
busy at killing. Why was the other?
For the same reasons as ours.
Il was seeing humanity against hu-
manity. A man killed was man
killed. courage was courage, sacrifice
was sacrifice romance was romance,
heart broken mother was a heart
broken mother, village burned was
village burned, regardless of race or
nation Every war is story in GER
tain set form: the rise of war passion,
the conflict, victory and defeat, and
then peace in Joyous relief, which the
nations enjoyed before they took the
trouble TO fight for il.
But such thoughts have been
familiar theme TO the poet, the novelist,
the dramatist, the satirist the dreamer
and the peace propaganda for many
centuries. yet the world goes on arming
and legalized killing remains a part %
our vaunted civilization.
Il have no quarrel with either the
doctrinaire who may be advocating
universal peace or the professional mil
itarist who regards success in war as
the acme Of human achievement. Ny
experience and observations force me
10 acknowledge the rights Of both OF
them. though I think that basicly both
are wrong in the application OF their
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
DOCTRINE OF ALoOFNESS HAS
FADED AWAY.

Perhaps the most striking feature
Of the whole situation is that not
voice Of authority is raised against the
proposal of an alliance. Yet that pro-
posal is only less revolutionary than a
like proposal to the United States
would be. Many years ago the Liberal
party Of Great Britain adopted the
policy Of splendid isolation" There
were TO be no more "entangling alli-
ances" with Continental powers. There
was to be no more bothering with Con-
tinental politics. So strongly was this
doctrine Of alOOfness emphasized that
even many Conservatives assented to
il, and reckoncd it a glory Of the
United Kingdom that 1t could venture
to stand alone. without an ally; and,
with acknowledgements to Athanasius.
there were exultant references to
britannia contra mundum." 1t did
sound very fine. But it did not last.
To-day Great Britain is not merely
bravely over her splendid isolation"
fit, but she is beginning to recognize
the fact that there can be no perma
nently satisfactory middle ground be-
tween isolation and alliance. The en-
tente has been and is of great value.
But it's chiefest value is as direct
and certain prelude to outright alli-
ance.
Lord Esher had that I'm mind when,
at the Sorbonne "A few weeks ago. he
made an eloquent argument and plea
for Transforming the entente into an
alliance, with all the clearly defined
duties and responsibilities which the
latter relationship implies. Now, Lord
Esther has peculiarly close relations
with the British court and crown; so
much so that he is often supposed to
reflect the royal mind. He is not. Of
course, member Of the present gov
eminent, being a Unionist, so that he
might have made his Sorbonne address
without consulting Sir Edward Grey
But it is scarcely conceivable that he
would make so extraordinary a plea
without some pretty confident assur-
ance that his words would not be UNI
welcome to the sovereign who was
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
EASY THING TO SETTLE FOR
AVERAGE CITIZEN.

War in the abstract is such simple
little thing 10 the average American
citizen. He admits il, and, generous
soul that he is. will share his knowl-
edge with you ad infinitum. or at least
until the score Of the ninth inning Is
chalked up. when. perchance, his
thoughts may turn to more weighty
subjects. such as dinner Harlem, Kelly
pool, Flatbush and the movies.
Visit any one Of our countless baseball
scoreboards. and there you will find our
National Forum Of public debate
ancient Rome had nothing on US, what
ever. Ningle with the crowd and
listen. There you will hear an out
pouring OF military genius that will
give YOU pause You will wonder how
Alexander the Great-C@sar. Napoleon;
not to mention a few lesser lights Of
more modern times-get away with It,
And as you wander away saddened
because history has played you so
false. your stated mind dimly realizes
that the first "double-header" will put
the kibosh on YOUR hitherto cherished
heroes. and then-oh. cruel day.-the
laurel wreaths Of their ill-gotten fame
will crumble into ashes Of unreality.
But TO return TO the general once
more.
He explained that military compre-
hension" meant just ordinary common
sense, so we find ourselves in New
York Ohe return from Washington was
uneventfuD looking for a possessor of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
l THIS TRIP. TOO, HAVE
IMPORTANT RESULT?

Now, the creation of that entente
sequel Of a visit of King Edward VII
to Paris and at its tenth anniversary
King George goes on a visit to Paris.
1t is at least an interesting coinci-
dence. That it is not something very
much more few are inclined to believe.
King Edwards visit was made TO
Paris in May, 1903, and i'm July follow
ing President Loubet returned the
visit in London. In October Lord
LansdOwne and Mr.. Cambon signed Il
treaty of arbitration. which bound the
two countries to submit TO The Hague
all disputes not settled by direct nego-
uations and not involving the honor,
independence or vital interests Of
either Then it was in the following
April, 1904. that the entente was made.
1t is highly significant that the way
has been prepared for the Kings visit
TO Paris by numerous public utterances
on both sides of the Channel concern
ing this tenth anniversary and the
story and services of the entente.
There has also been. not on the part
OF mere Spectators but from thought
full and responsible statesmen and
publicists, much talk about transform
ing the entente into an alliance. The
difference between the two may seem
to the uninitiate to resemble that be-
tween tweedledum and tweedledee. In
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
WE MUST BE IN FOREFRONT IN
WAR STRENGTH.

But can't you see how that makes
II imperative that we hold our place
among nations in military matters? II
other armies have automatic rapid hre
guns that can and do throw a steady
stream Of death at the rate Of 600 shots
a minute with the ease and accuracy
that the average suburbanite can direct
his garden hose to any part Of his lawn
that his fancy may suggest, we mus
be prepared TO return their fire VITA
equal effectiveness. one salvo Of
shrapnel from battery Of modern heid
guns could and has been known to an
initiate an entire regiment. Such hell
lish destruction makes one shudder' but
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

theories.
Universal peace is in the same
realm with universal honesty In busl-
ness. universal purity in politics and
universal unselflshness. In fact. ! am
inclined 10 think that without these
three universal qualities universal
peace viii remain an ethical castle In
the air. 1t is a question OF evolutionary
rather than revolutionary methods.
You cannot leglslate honesty into
man; neither can you legislate out OF
him his Unborn spirit Of conflict when
he thinks he is wronged. We must
start before the man is born. There
fore. I think that the peace societies OF
to-day are planting the seed OF
higher civilization that will reach It's
quo fruition In future generations.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
WAR MUST MEET DEATH AT IT'S
OWN HAND.

war as an institution must strange
itself 10 death. War itself ana us
frightful consequences must break ap
tho viclous circle Of world powers thal
il constantly arming one against uno
other. The perfection OF armament ~
one Of the surest incentives against war
On a large scale. When the world real
,,os that war means little short Of an
Inhalation for the armies engaged thon'
md / fear not until then, VIII puOhc
oninion. that irresistible force In mod %
ern civilization. assert itself and war
will be impossible. Education ana the
DEVELOPMENT Of that higher humanity
which the world Is struggling Tor VIII
nrotect future generations against IN"
scourge Of war, but we Of the present
cannot rely on such philosophica'
defence There is too much Of the pri-
NAL instinct rampant In our present
generation. We must meet brute tore
with brute force.
81 have been asked frequently now
the American soldier compared, III my
opinion. with those OF other nations
that have seen engaged In the fiercest
kinds OF warfare; Mr.. Roosevelt once
asked me 10 make such a comparisch'
but could not do 20 without consider
Ing q great deal more than just the oe"-
sonal element involved. The matter
OF arms. equipment, organization ana
motive are important factors. AS 70
personal courage and valor / can say
without fear Of contradiction that the
American soldier, man for man. has
no superior. / have seen him. In mo-
ments Of great stress, and his own
safety did not enter into his scheme OF
things. But personal yalor and 2our-
age under modern conditions Of warfare
are only two among a number OF es-
sentiaI elements that win battles. once
YOU have taught the American soldier
man obedience and discipline and he
will follow YOU into hell Itself, and you
will have TO be a rather speedy pace
maker or he will be treading on your
heels in his effort 10 reach his objec-
tive.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
Frederick Palmer, Who Has Seen
Much of Wars Stern Reality,
Calls Disarmament, Under
Present Conditions, an
Idle Dream.

military comprehension" In order 60
interview him on war.
Frederick Palmer. war correspondent
and author having just given TO the
world his latest novel, THE Last shot
(Scrihners). which is n story of alb
sorhing interest. with war under pres
emf day conditions rs it's theme IL
known 10 have military comprehen-
sion" and all that that term implies
In addition he has great fund or IN
formation gathered as a non-comnet-
ant observer OF war in many lands
MIR. Palmer was preparing 10 leave for
Mexico. where he will represent one OF
the magazines during the present
rumpus. but before sailing last Thurs
day ne found time 20 grant us an In
terview.
yes" agreed MIR. Palmer, II have
seen much OF the stern reality of war.
4 singular career, begun by chance,
was pursued TO the ends of the earth IN
the study of the greatest drama which
the earth stages have been under
fire without lighting; known the COM
radeship of arms without bearing arms,
and the hardships and humors Of the
march with only an Observers In
centive. Whether watching small
force Of white regulars disciplining n
primitive people or the complex tactics
Of huge army against huge army
whether watching war in the large or
in the small. ] have found the same
basic human qualities in the white heat
Of conflict working out the same illu-
sions. heroisms. tragedies and COM
al
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

No wonder that Russian military e.
penses rose from $275,000OO0 in 1905
to S445. OO0O 600 In 1914.
This is Russia's answer to Germany $
new army law. Now let us see what
that German provocation was.
The German rule has always, until
now. been to keep the peace army at
approximately / per cent of the popu-
lation; and the various army laws nave
provided for increases from time TO
time, according TO the census. The size
Of the peace army under various laws
has been as follows:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
nv WADE n. HAYES.

.kxx FIAT do YOU do between
w warsg" was the naive oues-
ton asked by a Congress-
man OF great power and influence In
the present administration while talk
inS 70 a hrigadier general Of the United
States army IN Washington the other
Sav. The hectic splutter Of suppressed
emotion on the part Of the brigadier
can. snd with greater propriety be
hotter imagined than dcscrihed. But
as the grizzled veteran OF many cam
naiSns Of real fighting turned testify
away. seeking. perhaps. more congenia
companionship. enc could hear through
the voltaic aura. enshrouding his en-
tire person as it were. rumohnSs sus-
costing distant thunder
As the fog OF righteous Indignation
lifted somewhat after the Congress
man had made a hasty exit through
swinging door into room where we
were told grape juice COULD be had
the thunderings of the general became
more articulate. To try 10 quote him.
however. would be as hopeless as the
efforts OF a blind man trying TO paint
The Sistine Madonna with burnt
stick.
But as the generals divine spark or
inspired invectve gradually cooled down
70 our normal temperature Of compre-
hension. which seemed but clinker in
comparison. he apostrophized hopeless
lv-s.no military comprehension-no
military comprehension and TINS
brings us without further ado to the
j
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

The Dual Alliance would thus nav
majority OF 1,53J0 over the i''p
while the five nations would have ~
fewer than 14,795,OOO fighting me"
the field. ia.
No wonder that statesmen are I've
ming TO wonder where II VIII "H
especially when they consider the nm
cial aspects of the situation s.,f
note these. at least in their sal
features. Here are the military 80
gets of the powers for the present 80
wear tol3-'14:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
SOLDIERS REPLIED BY ACTION
TO CRITICISM.

1T was unnecessary for me % reply
Though every man knew that the other
side Of that wall was a perfect inferno
OF gun fire. when they received az that
moment the order 90 advance they an.
swered the Russian officers implied
criticism with an eloquence thai
human speech cannot convey With
such men 10 fight our battles IS IL not
criminal negligence 10 allow political
chicanery or persoIal and selfish
motives 10 stand between us and mill
tary efficiency? For 70 is only with
military efficiency can we hope to avoid
subjectlng them TO such a sacrifice.
Il have seen enough OF war 20 know
It's cruelties, its hardshps and its hor-
rors. and 20 me it Is as abhorrent as It
could possibly be 10 the most ardent
peace propagandlst. l have seen the
life Of regiment snuffed out as ruth
lessly as one would kin so many buz-
zing MOSQUITOES. I have seen a man
with the lower half Of his face shot
away by a bursting shell dipping bis
finger into the cavity and writing with
his own blood on the Side Of a wagon
that had been overturned on bis
crushed legs. Kill me-kill me- and as
I claim 20 have at least the average
amount Of human kindness in my
nature. IL would be inhuman OF me 10
advocate war just for the sake Of war.
Therefore l relterate that the best pre-
ventive of war and it's desolation Is
preparedness that will avert it, or Il
il should be necessary for Us TO defend
cur house as we would against a burg
Ter. an efficiency IN both our army ana
our navy that will bring it 70 a con-
clusion in the shortest possible space
of time
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

fact, il is very much more. It Is
radical and vital difference; so that
the change from entente to alliance
would be no less marked than that
from no relation whatever TO the en-
tente.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

invite attack. He must have sef-con-
troll. courage judgment II he has not
kept up. II he IN not equal 10 the test,
hls inefnciency will mean his shame
and his country's suffering; while efii-
cheney means a clear conscience ana
bis couptry's security
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
WAp CORRESPONDENT DESPAIRS OF UNIVERSAL PEACE
The American Soldier, He Says,
Has, Man for Man, No Superior
ValOr-AbsOlute Need of
Upholding Nations
Military Status.

the American soldier would face II via
the utmost equanimlty II conditions
demanded that he should
shot for shot we must be- prepared
10 give our soldiers the protection thew
deserve. This country will, I am sur.
never enter into q war Of aggression
and our tactical position rs one Of lsola.
ton. but unless we are prepared IN do.
fend our homes and our honor againu
the aggression Of others we invite die.
aster
when the allied forces we're in China
had n splendid opportunity ~ COM
pare our soldiers with those OF other
countries I remember distinctly
heavy engagement before the walls NJ
a city that was being vigorously de-
Tended by the Chinese. Our marines
had been assigned a sector FOR attack
where men were dropping Ike nineplns
on an alley. The marines fought their
way 10 a gate through which was com
ing a perfect hail OF death dealing
missiles. Every man in the detachment
felt that 10 80 through that gate was
certain death There was "a momentary
pause az the men halted under the pro-
lection Of the wall they stod there
with white set faces, determined and
unafraid. A Russian officer turned %
me and said Your men DO not fight
as our soldiers do. We go into battle
cheerfully. singing cheering why do
your men hesitate"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

midable-we may add Of more futile
assaults. The great intrigue for
driving Mr.. Delcasse from the French
Foreign Office was only one of these.
1t was successful in depriving France
Of the services Of that statesman, but
it did not shake the integrity Of the
entente.
Indeed, there was and is, at least
on the face of il, no reason for Ger
man hostility to this compact. The
agreement applied explicitly TO certain
subjects, to wit: Egypt, Morocco, New
foundland, Senegambia, Nigeria, Siam,
Zanzibar, Madagascar and the New
Hebrides. Moreover, before the public
announcement of the compact Mr..
Delcasse submitted a complete draft
Of it to the German Ambassador in
Paris, with the result that few days
later the German Imperial Chancellor
declared in the Reichstag that there
was no reason for regarding it as di-
rected against Germany or any other
pOWeT.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26

TOTAL NNe poNt4Ns
If TO these figures we add the
OO0.O0O Of Great Britain we pa nd
grand total of more than billion 'S s
a quarter dollars year spent t0' n.
tary purposes by the six powers y
two Triple Alliances. sved
Those colossal figures be II o0S'
are for the armies alone ,,ss
These are some of the eiTcu'H' NH
and some of the considerations WI ne
surround the visit OF the KING v mai
French capital, and which eauss ,,.,r,
visit TO be regarded with extraoiu n.
interest and hope. in which the =.
tensely earnest wish is fatne'
thought.