New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-09
War Disguised as Peace.

tional Committee, Mr.. Vance Mccormick
thus defined the other day what he con
siders the real issue" of the Presidential
campaign:
GAIL Americans who desire the con-
tinuance of peace and prosperity will
vote for the reelection of President
Wilson. Those who wish war should
vote for Mr.. Hughes. There can be
no mistaking this issue. There is only
one alternative of peace and that is
war"
Mr.. Mccormick was only echoing one
of President Wilson's pet sophistries
The Administrations Mexican policy has
proved that war is not the only alternative
of peace or peace the only alternative of
war. There is third choice-and Mr.
Wilson has made it deliberately in all his
dealings with Mexico. That choice is to
conduct war without calling it war-to
disguise war under the semblance of peace
Mr. Wilson and Mr.. Mccormick deny
that we are at war with Mexico. But the
War Department, which has had to super
wise the details of our military operations
in Mexican territory, is much better in
formed than they are. The judge advo-
cate general of the army has just given
an opinion on the subject. He is aware, if
Mr.. Wilson and Mr. Mccormick are not,
that under the decisions of the United
States Supreme Court "a state of actual
war may exist without any formal dec
laration of it by either party"
Colonel Roosevelt, in his speech at the
Union League Club last Tuesday night,
quoted Vattels definition of war in his
"Law of Nations" 1t is chat state in
which we prosecute our right by force.
The judge advocate general also accepts
Vattel's as the clearest and most concu-
sive definition of war to be found in any
international law book. He therefore
rolds
at is apparent that under the law
there need be no formal declaration Of
war, but that under the definition of
Vattel a state Of t0ar erists. so far as
concerns the operations Of the United
States troops in Merico, by reason Of
the fact that the United States is
prosecuting IFS rights by force of
arms, and in manner in 1Chich 1Car
is usually conducted. l am
therefore of the opinion that while
war is not recognized as existing be-
tween the United States and Mexico,
the actual conditions under which the
field operations in Mexico are being
conducted are those Of actual war"
The military establishment has been put
on a war basis, so far as Mexico is con-
cerned. The government has incurred an
expense of about s1OO0OO,OOO through the
enlargement and equipment of the state
militia and their mobilization for ser
vice on the Mexican border. The appro-
priations for the army for the present fis-
cal year are 1921, $4,000, an increase of
s165,000,00O over the appropriations for
the preceding year. The country is pay
ing lavishly for Mr.. Wilson's war with
Mexico. But, unfortunately, it is getting
no benefit, military or other, out of this
huge war expenditure.
By the time the militia mobilization is
over at least S1O0OOOOOO will have van
ished without any material return to the
country either in the way of reestablished
order and security in Mexico or in the way
If permanently bettered military organ
ization.
Some OF the militia are already returning
from the border without any experience of
the sort which will improve their status as
part Of our first line Of national defence
Many Of them have had no extended order
drills; many Of them have never fred a
gun while in Texas, New Mexico or Ari-
,ona. They have done little or nothing
that could not have been done TO equal adj
vantage in state camps. They are no more
first line soldiers now, capable Of quick
smalgamation with the regular troops
than they were when they were hurried
away from home, under-recruited, poorly
equipped and unprovided with proper
transportation facilities.
The experiment Of using the state
Guards as first line troops has failed
utterly. Every intelligent critic Of mill
.ary affairs knew beforehand that it must
tail. II has involved shameful waste
In the month ending September q last 372
zen were recruited in this state TO fill up
The ranks Of New York organizations on
he border. II cost approximately $4,000
% recruit them-about $40 per man.
Here is only one item in the enormous
outlay for this futile mobilization, which
when IL il over will leave our military
establishment even weaker than il was be-
fore the bubble Of state Guard fedcraliza-
ion was pricked. Had this $l0O,OOO.0OO
,een spent on proper increase Of the reg
,lsr army the country would now be well
a National military re-