The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-10-12
NATIONS SECURITY REQUIRES
MUNITION FACTORIES AWAY
From SeabOard, SAYS Dir. VIM. Me
Clellan, A.S.M.E.. of New York
City, For Protection

cry far-sighted American citizen
should do his utmost u further the
development of the South. No nation
could afford to n~cG'eci the enormous
resources which all we'll informed
persons know that the South possess
es. l think aiGj thot there must be
agreement by all to ycur general
proposition thit the of the
country should be developed 50 that
foreign war could ever cut off sup
plies of material necessary for the
nourishment or protection OF The ma
the nation should not be content with
knowing the mere location of neces-
sary and wait until the
ime of the crisis to develop them.
Jnquestionably the development of all
these should be a part of
the orderly progress of the nation in
times of peace, particularly when The
larger part of this development can
be done with a profit.
So far as the munition plants along
the Atlantic Coast are concerned, il
may be unfortunate that they are at
such vulnerable points, bat in view
of the very great immobil.&y of train
ed labor, as well as its att achment to
lome and soil, ii is difficult to see
SOW any immediate or rapid change
AN be made. Moreover, tie present
european war has proven that the
demand for munitions in time Of
peace is infinitestimal compared with
the demand in time of war. 1t is this
very fact that has brought all think
ing men to the conclusion that ade-
quate preparedness means the main
aimed ability to quickly, even instan-
taneously, mobilize all industry when
the attack comes. This should be
Just as serious a part of the work uf
he government as the preparation of
an army or a navy. From the news
paper accounts it would seem as if
he munitions were almost more i'm
lortant than were fighting men. The
British and the French armies seem
o make their advance by, occupying
ground previously denuded of the enc
my by the heaviest kind of artillery
fire.
Those having charge of the prepare
ion for rapid mobilization of indus
,ry should, of course, give most seri-
Gus attention to the principles you
are contending with. Unquesionably
we ought to be in a position to manu-
facture munitions far out of the range
a gunfire of an attacking navy, either
sea or air. We have ample mineral
in our interior, and we
should rely on them, irrespective of
Nhatvere use we may make of foreign
resources in times of peace. In view
If the enormous development of muni-
ions plant on the Atlantic Coast, far
more than sufficient in times of peace.
| do not see how any change can take
place in location esecpt as a result
of ordinary commercial and business
development. This change of loca-
ton may eventually take place. but
for many years to come | am of the
opinion that we shall have to rely on
our navy absolutely to protect us in
case of foreign attack.
| thoroughly believe in a trained
c%itizenry. l believe this training
should be such as to enable us to
have a huge number of citizens capa-
BILE of being quickly transformed into
subordinate army officers. This does
not mean, however, anything like the
German, French or Russian standing
armies. Such a system, to my mind.
unnecessarily cuts down the produc-
ing power of the nation. Adequate
preparation can be had by other less
drastic plans for training. Our safety
depends upon sea power and coast
.defenses, and not upon a large stand
ing army or quasi standing army.
Germany's theory of preparedness
has involved the making of munitions
for all the world in times of peace.
and at a profit, so that she would
adequate Facilities for herself in
time of war. This is a beautiful theo
ry SO long as n nation is permitted
to work 1t out. Just as soon as all
nations commence. to work on this
each nation must maintain its
munition plants principally for time
war only, and at a huge loss dur
ing times of peace.
Let me say in conclusions, there
fore, and in summary, that the ma
tons security depends upon a large
navy and upon adequate plans to
mobilize all forms of industry to
industry to quickly commence the
manufacture of those munitions which
it will need in time of war, and which
it does not nede and can find no mar.
ket for in times of peace. Such plans
of necessity depend upon using tie
nations own internal resources. of