The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
Hudson Maxim Points
to Cermany's Reali-
cation of Their Value
in Describing Coun.
try's Needs

A MONG the most pronounced
~ and most radical Of the advo-
Gates Of that principle which
dictates that every country
worthy Of the name should always
maintain Itself In a condition In which
It will be prepared for any interna-
tional trouble that may arise there Is
none who speaks more emphatically
than Hudson Maxim. Vehement In al
things. he is especially so In speaking
Of what he terms the "crime Of un-
preparedness" and being questioned
on the subject the other day at his
hummer home at Lake Hopatcong no
freed his mind with Characteristic
emphasis.
Mr.. Maxim was one OF the first Sc
lected to serve with Edison on the
proposed advisory board OF citizens
who are to act with the Government
in devising necessary measures OF ma
tional defence, and almost the first
question that was asked OF him was
in relation to that board. He re-
fused, however, to discuss the ques-
ton. saying that the hoard. being
not yet organized. had only a tenta-
tive existence and that nothing could
be forecast even as to the scope Of
the work It might or might not be
asked to perform.
He was also reticent concerning the
attitude Of the Government in the
existing crisis. refusing to pass any
' opinion as to the policy that should
be maintained other than hat Of pre-
pairing for any possible contingency.
I'm the first place" he said, when
he reached this subject, ut is an alb
solutc necessity for the nation at this
stage OF the worlds development to
be able to meet m md all possible
forms OF attack that may be en-
ployed by an enemy, and, as the word
has seen in the present war in Eu-
rope. attack Is liable to be made In
any form that may be devised within
the uttermost resources OF modern
science.
Much has been said and much con-
tinues to be said concerning what Ia
called civilized warfare and It seems
to be thought by many that II IL or
should be possible to restrict a COM
Blatant nation to approved methods OF
fighting. The idea seems to be that
the mora sentiment OF the civilized
word ought to be sufficient to re-
strict a nation at war from the COM
mission OF barharic acts and that ex-
cessive cruelty, especially toward non
combatants. can somehow be pre-.
vented.
"All such talk is absolutely idle
There is not. and there cannot be, any
such thing as civilized warfare, for
the reason that wal Is a negation OF
civilization. There are no moral re-
strictions in he'll. and war is hell and
then some.
THE object OF wal Is to disable your
adversary, and. IL necessary. to de.
stroy him. As he is to be killed II
possible, 1t follows that the only ques.
ton worth considering in regard &c
the means employed in the killing Is
whether II is effective or not. To pro-
test against the use Of machine gun'
or submarines or aeroplanes or pol.
sonous gases or liquid fire or tc
set up rules against the incidenta
slaughter OF non-combatants oil
against the destruction Of works oil
art or against 'snip!ng' Is ~entirel,
futile. For one thing, there should
be no ~urh persons as n non-comba
tant. Every man. woman and chic
old enou-N and physically able tc
shoot should be ready to shoot at tn,
enemy OF his country on every pos
sible occasion. and should do It un,
hesitattngly. II Is the imperative duty
OF every citizen In the event OF war.
so far as the use OF new and
strange weapons is concerned. there
mas Always pceH u pIOltst dbdlnst IL
1t Is probable, though It Is not re
corded, that the Philistines were
highly indignant when David refused
10 fight Goliath with n sword ant
killed him with n smooth stone. Ant
that same protest has been made evel
since whenever any new weapon hal
been introduced. II was declared un,
manly when powder began to be uset
10 shoot an enemy with a gun, though
It was accounted regular TO kill hin
with an arrow.
There is considerable talk ever
now against the use OF liquid FIR,
and poisonous gas, but the only thinl
new about that Is hat new method,
are employed to throw them on tn,
enemy. The Chinese have thrown
stinkpots nj their foes from time i'm
memorial. and fire IL one OF mana
most primitive weapons. Formerly |
was started by hand and left 10 spren,
itself, Now we start II by shootin,
explosive bombs, That Is the onl,
difference"
That's true said Rex Beach, VIII,
was an attentive listener 10 a consid
crnhlc portion of the interview. "Whci
there was war In Cuba II ~ III,
principal t"'"gs hat were attcmpte
was the destruction ~ the grent suga
plantations. and the way they HRS
tried to accomplish hat was to soal
rats IN kerosene ana set fire T.