The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-06-06
Slaughter and Waste
Of War Should Teach
II Uncle Sam a Lesson

The people of the United States car
6nd food for thought in the terrible
naval battle fought off the coast of Den
mark in which nearly a score of British
md almost as many German ships went
down in single day, most of their crews
\ perishing with them.
Aside from the horrible waste of life
what of the money, raised by taxing the
people to the utmost, which is given to
\ the sharks and other creatures of the
yea?
And when we are through enumerat-
I ing the long list of losses, from men
and ships to the immeasurable grief Of
men, women and children whose lives
IRE ruined; the burden of ever increas-
ing taxation, the duties imposed upon
mothers by the loss of the bread-winners,
I the whole, awful, sickenhg horror, what
3 the gain?
Has anything been really accomplished
s " settled?
Has any one been beaten, and, if so,
what then?
Britain says that her supremacy of
the seas has not been shaken. Germany
4 rays her losses will not materially Grip
pie her. Each claims victory, and no
one has advanced.
The whole wretched slaughter which
/ Has been taking place for months along
4 The verdun line of battle, the routing of
the Serbians, the conquest of Poland, the
occupation of Belgium - have these
5 things settled anything?
q We know that they have not and that
finally, an arbitration board will have to
be brought into being to draw up treaties
and give back, in all probability, Belgium
and Serbia to their own people and give
Poland autonomy.
One side will receive more indemnity
than another, perhaps, and few strips
/ Of land in Africa will change hands, but
what will this amount to in the face of
4 the losses?
If preparedness is to be considered
from reasonable standpoint, there can
be no such thing. 1t is circle, for it
has no end. It's only result is to make
more slaughter possible by a continual
enlargement of army and navy.
The United States cannot be "pre-
pared" unless it stands on an equal foot
ing of men, boats, guns, etc., with any
other country, and after that, with any
two, three or four countries. There is,
Z and can be, no limit but the limit Of
Y credit and taxation.
Were the United States to start to
prepare now, it would take her more
than 40 years to compete with the mill
\ tary organization of Germany, and it is
not likely that she could ever accom-
plish it, for a democratic government
would not tolerate the autocratic militar-
ism which has brought Germany to its
high state of efficiency.
Therefore, why should we further pre-
!. pare? 1t is like pouring water into a
(. sieve. Battleships are like egg shells in
the face of torpedoes, mines and modern
guns. We might sink few boats of
\ the enemy in the event of war, and he
might return the compliment with the
: result that we would be in the position
4 In which we were before, minus men,
boats and the position of a neutral ma
4 ton entitled to a higher respect than
A one which is constantly on the alert to
hit back at any provocation.
ii viii this battle, in the most beautiful
Place off the coast of northern Europe,
have the effect of squirting the Navy
hague TO greater effort in its demand for
IN appropriation for more ships, or will
n n be like dash Of cold water in the
z >ece Of an excited or hysterical person ?
Il would seem that congress and thf
opple Of the United States must see
= aeanolsssness and futility of it all.