The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-11
GERMAN "NILITARISM. >"
Is II Peculiar; Is II Reprchensible ?

From the Amy and Nary Journal
BY German militarLsm, wo take IT. is
meant a plant OF a peculiarly balcful
influence upon civilization. "A plant that
grows only on German soil, and unless
eItermnatcd threatens TO blight the whole
world.
Ii is gratifying in a measure TO have
the term "mlltariSm" against which the
present wrath In directed qualified with
the word GERMAN" for too long before has
It been applied to any attempt to give a
country proper military defences. But
the present war has resulted In difreren-
taton. There Is m,litarism and miitar-
ism. The special brand which needs tho
immediate application OF an extinguisher
is the German brand. The inference is
not unwarranted, therefore, that those
who hope TO purify the world by getting
rid OF German miltarism sec In II ele-
menus which the military establishments
of other big Continental nations do not
possess.
We have kept fairly close watch OF
the development of tho military systems
OF Europe in the last nifty years. and we
confess 90 an utter inability to find any
.hing In German mllttariSm" which dif-
fers radically from the military estab-
lshments OF other countries. The two
fundamentals OF present day German
mlitarism' are universal compulsory
military service for all citizens OF the
German Empire and complete readiness.
But compulsory military service Is not
confined to Germany. II obtains in
France. Austria, Italy and Russia OF
the large European Powers Great Britain
alone has no compulsory service law.
IL IL not, then, In compulsory service
that German militarlsm" differs from
the other "militarisms" OF Europe 1t
may be said that Germany's military es-
tablishment exacts more OF the country
To, ~ 1rs.f .
ranks of It's young men than any other
of the nations OF the Continent but study
OF the military strength OF Germany and
France discloses the fact that with "A
population nearly twenty-five millions less
the actual war strength OF the two coun-
tries is practically tho same. The point is
firmly established that German militar-
ism" does not demand extraordinary sac
rihces from the people OF tho empire. that
the sacrifices arc greater In France.
Two things have now been cleared up!
% That Germany IL not peculiar in hav-
ing compulsory service: CD that her
military system does not draw upon her
resources as heavily In proportion TO
population as other systems draw upon
her neghbors
There IS left. then, only the last sup
position, namely. that German militar-
ism" is condemnable because OF it's ex-
tremo readiness. AS General McCoskry
Butt wrote from Europe the other day,
Germany was ready. the other countries
were not. But this is a feature OF her
military system for which Germany
should be praised. not blamed, for what Is
any army worth II It Is not ready when
the call comes? The more nearly ready
II Is, the more nearly It approaches those
standards OF value and efficiency for which
all great commanders have striven
through all tho ages
Instead. therefore, OF German militar-
ism being something that should he
wiped out" 1t IL something that should
be initiated closely by other nations not
excepting our own United States.