The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-03-12
The HAWAIIAN T GIVE ''T17FI.1
Ro0am 'f Mssa rGss is m NTaT
One Hours An,,,,t.,,itions

N the debate upon the Notifications bill in the house
Mr.. Shcrley of Kentucky said that "the American
people pursue peace as a passion That, says the
New York Sun is an oratorical way Of saying that
the American people cannot conceive of the United
States being engaged in great, war and that they
regard peace the destiny of Ihe country because
II is 5000 sea miles from Europe and 5000 sea miles
from Asia. Complacency is not passion.
So it becomes necessarily at times to rouse the
American people to an understanding Of the contrast
between their available military resources and those
Of powerful nations with whom war is a means of
territorial aggrandizement and economic expansion
Given the provocation or excuse for hostities one
of these nations might decide overnight to take ad-
vantage of the unprepafedness of the United States
and teach it lesson in modern warfare. Mr.. SHEER
ley was quite right when he said !: 81 know Of no
time when there is more need for sober thought for
serious thinking, than there is today But what a
confession Mr.. Sherley had to make when he admit
ted that for the central United States the estimate
for ammunition was Of sufficient amount to supply
all the coast artillery guns for one hour of FIRE :"
While it may be granted that the need would not
arise for all the coast defense gins to be in action
at the same time the statement is nevertheless dis
quoting, for very serious shortage of ammuni-
tin Isl confessed. Notifications and cannon con-
sumo in the making vast amount of money and
ammunition is cheap i'll comparison. \ What eyre
gous folly it is, then, to have on hand no more
shells than would suffice for few hours of defense
Z Representative Sherley himself is not yet broad
awake to the backward state of the country's de
lenses. If his eyes were wide open and his senses
alert he would not talk thus Fa-."
is3 Even assuming that hostile feet could dispose
u of naval forces, put submarines out of bust
ness and clear away mines, IL is possible that
certain cities they might be able, il they got in
at a certain place on the map where there Is wa.
~ ter enough to float them to lombard a part of
city and be out of range Of our guns.
" This is the sort of logic that makes efficient army
and navy officers grieve. What bearing does it have
Upon the stock of she'll ammunition which the for
ti6cations should have? Our coast line is of vast
extent and the feet cannot be ubiquitous. Our sub
marines are far from what they should be in con-
struction and equipment, and the training of the
submarine personnel leayes "a great deal to- be, de
sired Clearing away mines sg rthe- business, of
Rodern feet 1Bombardment of fortified coast cities
IVA resourceful enemy is therefore practicable Mr.
Shelley is reasoning in circle with his eve; half
!SpStL Sthe obligation of congress to provid: the
coast artillery with SHE'LL not 70: an action of one or
two hours bIffo DAYS of hard fighting cannot BIZ
cvaded by presenirg that the United State, fleet
viii always be on -fsg spot to whip the enemy 1t
should. Instead, be asshued that the enemy o.!l ar
rive m force to begin b6nbardment of any fortified
coast city within the range Of its guns considera-
ton that calls for ample supply of ammunition at
all times for emergency. If it Is not to be provid-
ed there would seem to be sound tsason for keep
ing up the Notifications What pennyNwse pound
foolish scheme has been policy of preparedness
for defense .. ,. \E.t'