New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-08
A Hundred Million Defenceless

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Fools paradise" is a harsh ex-
preston, but the hour has come for
hewing to the line. There are times
when soft talk becomes crime.
Outside Of our national capital at
this moment the spectacle is presented
Of ninety millions of people still half
asleep regarding the defences Of their
nation. We behold the experts OF the
United States army and navy and a
wide-awake Secretary Of War. pleading
with Congress for the men and ma
terials that are necessary TO place this
nation in a state Of defence that WI
not be an international joke.
Our coast defences are short 664 off,
GERS and 1898 men; our navy is short
2O3 line officers and 1865 men, and our
standing army could put only forty-five
thousand fighting electives on the fir
ing line. Our navy is fourth in rank
as to number OF units, and il; fastest
ships of the line are like the Butcher,
that was overhauled and sunk because
it was so absurdly slow! The fast
cruisers and battleships OF the British
and German navies could sail in circl :
around the fastest of our best sea night
ers like cooper going around cask.
And Congress is, at this very
moment, trying TO make both hnanclai
ends meet without any unusual eX-
penditures for defences! Now, is there
any honest American so dull that he
cannot see the joke of our "detences
We behold well meaning Congress
men held back from voting adequate
appropriations by the we'll grounded
fear that their constituents will not
back up adequate defences on Election
Dav. FINAL p, as a touch OF real COM
edy in a far too serious spectacle, we
behold an organization Of excellent la
dies and gentlemen (mostly past the
ability to bear arms approaching Con-
gress with a formal ana solemn protest
against the increase Of the defences Of
the United States!
We are we'll within bounds in assur-
ing Congress and the President that q
great many private citizens now are
thoroughly alarmed by the present con-
dition OF the defences OF the United
States. We believe that the silent ma
iority will strongly support all the ef-
forts that the President and Congress
NAV be persuaded to make for the
quick and thorough strengthening Of
our army, navy, militia and defensive
equipment. While we yield precedence
20 no man in desiring honorable peace
with all nations, while we are willing
10 submit 10 everything that honorable
and courageous men may rightly en-
dure before appealing TO arms, W. SOL
EMMY protest against degree OF
weakness ~ our defences SO conspicu-
Gus and so grotesque that II constantly
invites attack from without.
The Best Guarantee OF Peace.
A careful study OF the last annual
reports OF the Secretary of War, the
Secretary Of the Navy and the chief OF
coast artillery is sufficient TO chill the
heart OF every thinking American with
we'll grounded fear. Our defences OF
every description are inadequate, TO
an extent that TO every foreigner must
be laughable; but TO every American
the situation is too serious for levity.
The American people are not children,
and the only reason we can suggest
why the present situation has been ere
ated is that the people at large are
ignorant OF the extent OF our national
defence!essness. IL is only the con-
f!rmed and illogical miser who neg
lects 10 provide proper security for his
wealth and wilfully exposes himself
and his hoard 20 deadly attack.
We desire TO inform all Americans
that az this moment Switzerland, with
only one-third Of the territorial area
Of the State OF New York. and less