The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-17

f'uence save through intellectual and
spiritual met hods Whatever prepa-
ration she undertakes is preparation
for defense. IL should. however. be
none the less efficient and powerful
for that reason. II il good sign,
think. that thoughtfuI citizens in the
professions, business and trades are
interesting themselves in this great
necessity forced upon us by the up
heaval Of the world and the plain
dictates of common sense.
Too Nucf Cost FOR Results.
/ am informed that we are now
spending two hundred and forty mill
lion dollars on our army and navy,
and that We are able 20 maintain a
total force on land Of ninety thou
sand men. and of this only thirty
thousand are available within the
United states as a mobile army. The
Swiss expend around SIX ana one-half
million dollars annually. and yet !
sa " that little republic in seven days
throw around It's frontier an army of
500 000 men. Mauifestly we do not
spend wisely and effectively what we
have to spend This should be our
first consideration, not In n spirit OF
mere fauit-ftndiue, but in the spirit
Of a man overhauling his business.
The general STAFF OF the army some
Of which outlines our present task.
Five great needs appear.
First. An adequate and efficient
navy as the primary line of defense.
Second An adequate system of
coast defense 10 prevent the naval
ombardmcnt Of orr principal sea
ports and cities.
Third a small but highly efficient
regular army to serve in time of peace
as protection against Civil disorder,
In time Of war az temporary pro-
lection against invasion, and in times
of both peace and war. to be a pat
tern and nucleus for the organization
Of the larger citizens army. upon
which. In any serious conflict, our pro-
lection must ultimately depend.
Fourth. a citizens army composed
If men who do not make arms their
vocation, but who haVe been willing 70
spent n short portion of their lives in
undergoing the training which mod
ern methods Of war make absolutely
necessary as a condition of usefulness
on the battlefield.
Fifth. Such accumulation OF mate
rial munitions and weapons as would
guarantee adequate armament AT the
outset Of any war and carefully
worked cut scheme Of industrial trans
portation and financial reorganization
that woud enable us to pass quickly
from peace to war basis OF life
and society In case Of need.
pemocTacy's Aim Is Peace.
II is at once the glory and the
weakness Of democracy that II Is not
as ready and fierce an antagonist at
the outset as autocracy. though /
daresay It's spirit will last longer. The
aim of democracy is not war, hut
I a hat n-0Dprn-
ton: not hatred but sympathy. It
is an aspiration after perfection, not
q reversian To barbarism. The neCes-
silly therefore Of wise and exact prep
aration To protect this unwarlike
+ scheme If society Is all the more ur-
/ gent until such time as it's own spirit
shall permeate the world. ] venture
to add. finally that the United States
/ Of America Is no longer an isolated
f country. Its trade necessities and am
I billions. its colonial possessions. its ex-
! tended coast line. and. above all, the
| complications of tho Monroe doctrine,
enlarged beyond the dreams of its
author and the applications Of science
j 10 commerce thrust our republic into
the very center of the worlds affairs
II Is indeed not uncomfortable that
the results Of this war may force the
nited states into the position OF tht
leading defenders of the great faitf
~ democracy IN all the world Mani
testify. therefore, It is our duty in sucf
an age as this to use wise self
restraint, but to he ready for any
emergency,
/ have great faith that the Presi
dent OF the United States, and thos
surrounding him are thoroughly EN-
hued with the necessity for meetin
this great situation with power ant
com pleteucss
;. Again expressing my regret that
cannot be with your company | am
Sincerely yours.
EDWIN A Ai.DERMA
a A.,