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

People Sound Aseep-Wlam T. Honaday Pleads for Immediate
Aiming to Protect Our Shores

= even to be amused by the advocates Of
defencelessness. Defensively we are
to-day fully five years behind the needs
of the present hour. We are convinced
that the American people desire for
their nation and their homes degree
Of protection commensurate with the
needs of the time, the dangers of our
position and the resources of this
mighty nation.
We believe that the hour has come
when Congress and the departments of
War. Navy and the Treasury should
swiftly go forward 70 build. 10 enlist,
to arm and equip all our various lines
of national defence until a satisfactory
basis is reached. We believe that the
recommendation of the General Board
Of the Navy, the Secretary of War and
the chief Of coast artillery are sane,
safe, and by no means too expansive 70
be adopted in full by Congress and TO
be paid for by the American people!
A National Defence Loan.
As cold business proposition, il is
perfectly clear that in order to meet
the heavy extraordinary expenses that
unavoidably will be incurred in increas-
ing our ornaments as the situation
now demands. large extra defence
fund must be provided In our judg-
ment, the memorable logic Of the situa-
ton calls for an issue of 100000. 900
worth OF national defence bonds, draw
ing 31a per cent interest, and salable
in small lots to the people at large.
That any important number of Ameri-
cans would object to such an issue is
inconceivsble. A hundred millions bor-
rowed and wisely expended in 1915 and
1916 may easily save US from war loans
and war expenditures of two billions
OF dollars or more in 1920. or some
time thereafter We have talked long.
and also loud, about the Monroe Doc
trine and defending the Panama
Canal" and now the time has come
that we must either put up or shut up.
The annual interest on those nation
al defence bonds would amount 10
s3,5O0,OOO, and it Is just possible that
Tor that small annual sum we can pur-
chase good measure of security
against wanton attack. No wise man
balks at the cost OF insurance upon
his property or his life. II we can
insure the safety Of even one-half of
our United States seacoast cities by
the payment Of an annual premium Of
less than $4,000, 900, would il not be a
good business investment? We chal-
lenge all men to show how such a sum
could be more wisely invested by the
American people.
Tho Time to Act Is To-day.
The time to act is to-day, not to-
morrow. II takes time TO build big
guns and ships and produce new regi-
ments OF trained men. As reflected in
the daily press, the defensive pro-
gramme thus far laid down by the
House OF Representatives is very in
adequate. At this time the boldest
and the most farreaching policy is the
best policy. The logic Of the situa-
ton Is memorable. Our army, our
navy and our coast defences are all
right as far as they GO We have no
fault TO find with our nations defend
ers except for the smallness of their
number, the insuffciency OF their
equipment and the slow speed Of our
best fighting ships. Except In speed,
they have gone just as far as Congress
has permitted them TO 90. Their pub
lished reports show that with but
one exception. they have known the
nations needs and that they are keen
ly alive TO the situation.
The men and women who now are
actively opposing the increase OF our
national defences are taking upon
themselves a serious responsibility. In
my opinion, they are trying 10 do their
country a great injury.
WILLIAM T. HORNADAY.
New York, Feb. !, 1915.