The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-12-30
THE WAR AND PREPAREDNESS.

THE WAR AND PREPAREDNESS.
"Canada lie fully determined to spare
no effort and shrink from no sacrifice to
make triumphant the cause of the Lilies
the freedom of the world" declared
Sir Robert Laird Borden, the Canadian
Premier, at the dinner of the New Eng
land Society in New York Dec. 22nd.
1--WE are firm in the conviction that
humanity's struggle against the en-
thronement of force above right will not
be in vain." Premier Borden was cheer
ed enthusiastically throughout his ad-
dress.
Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary and
United States Senator Charles F. John
son were the principal speakers Dec.
2lst at meeting in Waterville under
the auspices of the local branch of the
National Defence League. Admiral
Peary quoted the Japanese in the war
with Russia as saying of their success:
1T was victory by Encouragement"
He said that the question, ''What shall
we do?" was to be answered by the es-
Establishment of the aerial coast patrol
system and by the establishment by
each State of the Swiss military sys-
tenn, which in Maine would put 80, 600
trained men in posture of defense in
48 hours and throughout the country
million men could be made ready in the
same time. Senator johnson said: II
am not one of those who believe we
should have the second best Navy in the
world; believe we should have the first
and best Navy in the world. Before
this war is over hope to see the Ameri-
can flag floating in every port of the
world that is open to commerce. He
Endorsed the entire plan for increase in
the Army and Navy and for coast de-
tense.
At a discussion on preparedness"
before the Massachusetts Reform Club
in Boston Dec. 22nd DIR. Charles W. Eliot
suggested an alliance with the Entente
Powers after this war-to resist attack
on any of its members by an outside
Power, and the further object of pre-
serving the freedom of the seas.
'1n this league" said he, "would be
France, England, Russia, Italy, Japan
and the United States. Belgium and
Serbia are not in position to enter such
a league. You will notice have omitted
Germany and Austria.
"What is the use of getting either Of
those Nations into any league what ever?
They have announced, in their acts of
the present war, no regard for treaties
of any kind in the face of what they con-
slider a military necessity. So the civil
lied Governments of the world can have
no treaty or league with those Nations
Pres. Eliot also laid emphasis on the
fact that this present war has resolved
itself more and more clearly into con-
test between military autocracy and the
democratic principle of government, and
that it was the duty of the United States
to support the latter.
eff the time should come when Ger
many seems about to gain final victory
in this European conflict, l believe the
obligation would rest upon the United
States to declare war upon her." said
Prof. George Burton Adams of Yale
University during an address Dec. 21st
before the Economic Club of Boston.
"Can any student of international affairs
during the last Is years doubt that any
thing but dictatorshlp-no of Europe,
but of the world-has been Germany's
ultimate object? Let me beg you not to
think of this issue as one confined to Eu-
rope. 1t is not. 1t is the possession, in
fluence and dominating power of the
world at stake" George E. Roberts of
the National City bank of New York
discussed the effect of the war upon
business, predicting that at the conclu-
sion of the war steel and machinery will
be the great wants of the world, and
said: IA larger output and lower prices
are the watchwords by which we will
gain abroad and improve things at
home" Norman Angel emphasized his
belief that military preparedness will
avail the United States nothing unless
coupled with preparedness Of policy.
"Unless in conjunction with your in
crease in power" he said. "you also
have clear conception of how you are
going to use it, you will not achieve your
object and will fail to protect your coun-
try" Prof. Albert Bushnell Hart of
Harvard University declared his oppo-
sition to militarlsm and to certain kind
of preparedness. II am opposed to mil
itarism," he declared, land to great
standing army. l want to see some ar
rangement which will guarantee US some
degree of self-protection and at the same
time eliminate the features of German
kill IoI loIus L uOll OGIlCNS III GuE hlIlu
of preparedness that is so much talked
about in Washington now, nor in doub-
ling the standing army. We need pre-
paredness in the matter of well-trained
officers and above all in the feeling of
responsibility for the whole" President
Emeritus Charles w. Eliot of Harvard
advocated a policy OF insurance against
the risk of invasion in this country, de-
claring that it is quite within reason for
this country to pay great deal for in
surance against this small but terrible
risk. ''To what object" he asked,
''should we increase our present army?
The only one:.that amiable to see ia that
of taking part in league, or society,
of Nations, organized for offensive and
and defensive warfare, in order to pre-
vent war. can easily imagine six great
world Powers, including the United
State, banded together to prevent any
attack from outside and TO maintain the
freedom of the seas. There are six or
seven Nations which will learn through
this war that war is intolerable ana that
it can be prevented by means of a small
union of Nations with the guiding object
of preventing war;"
SOIITu MONTVTTTE