Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-24

ness Of respect which was deplored in
the press throughout the country.
How has 1t been as to the navy
that indispensable first line of our de-
Tense? Listen to the language of Adj
miral Fiske. speaking less than two
weeks ago at Annapolis. After fore
casting the size and character OF a
possible naval attack from Europe, he
said:
What have we with which to OPP
pose this force? A smaller number
Of dreadnoughts. pre-dreadnoughts and
destroyers than the enemy would
bring; no battle-cruisers. no effective
scouts, one airship. only recently con-
tracted for, three good aeroplanes not
yet ready, an embryonic aeronautical
service, two mine depot ships, one
mine layer, no mine planters and six
mine sweepers; also about thirty-five
submarines of all kinds and ages, dis
tributed over the Atlantic and Paci-
nc coasts, Panama, Hawaii and the
Philippines, none OF which have ever
attempted feats like those so effec-
lively performed In foreign nayies
now, and an inadequate merchant ma
rine from which to get auxiliaries To
man even this insufficient material
We have an enlisted personnel INSULT
cient even for that. even In time of
peace, and no trained reserve: and no
general stan or similar agency to di.
rect the whole"
Moreover. during ali This winter of
barren, fruitless discussion. have been
heard the same old voices using the
same old arguments which have nro-
duced impotence in the past. telling
US. even IN the face OF this dreadful
war in Europe. that the age Of war
was over; that preparation f3r defense
merely tended to provoke war; that
the United States need never fear In
Justice, no matter how helpless she
allowed herself to become and that the
tnlng TO DO was e. keep quiet and do
nothing.
AZ TINS time OF crisis. do not these
arguments lose little OF their force?
70 not tnose voices sound q little
lseDle ~ the ecnoes OF the destruc-
ton OF the LusitaniaI Is It not time
- IooA iacts "a the race and put an
- sel-uscspelon! Inc man
49, -. =. a. uouay nes IN the TACT
:. 80. ~, !" ns - acesu u ,ne pas. a.
- So eoou iTasou Ior renewing that
,.e ~ W nU -, leally nsan 70 pfotect our
as,sa :. NC sulesI way 70 ger INTO
So nsns = -. ~ u.s. serols LANGUAGE ana
1 - ..s VIII one nanus IA MS pockets.
g., nan me- uuhlenl VINO
- nee nc. cs'uene iison note
a.. - ~ lany Noulu .eceise more atlen.
. .,on anu inoIe weIsht u = was known
snas .. Jul lazy was IN reaoiness ana
u W 80 peopls IN Inc language OF
Wasninsson disciplined and trained
~ arns
AZ Lnis conference of the National
wa - -. So iee us De carerui that
de,,.a. 81, - any eAtent, or In any
hes - -, -. my tne same error which
W1s Desn gun trouble during the past.
~ W NOT heeu Iurtner discus
s.on &c 70 seheral military policies;
mnae We 40 need IS prompt decision
as 70 the Dest immediate steps to take
.oWaIas remedying the shortcomings
which are already well known. We
oIten Iaii into the error Of thinking
that this country has no well-matured
military policy. No greater mistake
could be made. Our military advisers
have not failed us. The defects from
which we now suffer have been point
ed out many times by them. Over a
dozen years ago, Elihu Root, when he
was secretary of war, laid the founda-
tions for the scientific solution of ali
OF these problems by creating the
general stan Of the army and found.
ing the Army War College, and, dur
ing the years that have since interven-
ed, these TWO bodies have put forth a
careful, conservative and thoroughly
matured policy which should govern
the military defense OF this country