Evening journal., 1916-04-29

human beings who go TO make up the
nations are the guiding force within
each separate entity. In other words.
so long as human nature remains as
It Is. nations will fight and quarrel
among themselves in the same man
ner as do the individual members Of
society.
"If the country is TO continue TO oc-
cupy the place among the family OF
nations gained for IT by our forefath-
ers. It is patent to all who analyze our
defensive forces that they are made
Quate for the purposes for which they
were created, which ! will reiterate
are for the defense of the country.
and rather for preparedness to enforce
peace than preparedness for war.
up until the middle Of the last
century the physical isolation OF this
country accentuated by the two larg-
est oceans. on either side OF us, was
one Of the greatest barriers for the
countrys defense. II is unnecessary
TO 90 into details in order to bring
10 your attention the various invon-
tions which have annihilated space
and i'm turn have conquered tho
oceans These very oceans az the pres
cnt day instead of acting as barriers,
now present the most vulnerable
points i'm our country's defense.
For Merchant Marine.
"All the nations which might he
considered among the first six powers
own OF control a merchant marine
vastly superior to that OF the United
states They arc composed Of a great
number of large and fast steamships.
which came into immediate control OF
their governments at the time of ma
tional crises such as war or impend-
ing war. II rs with these ships, ac-
companied 10y equally fast. or faster
warships. that the oceans on either
side of us could be used for the trans
porlation Of larger body OF troops
than this country would be able to
mobilize in order 10 meet the attack
that would be launched against it For
instance, this nation has a policy
known In general terms as the Mon
roe Doctrine. the details of which
need no elaboration at a gathering Of
this character II has been more good
fortune than anything else that this
policy has not brought MS into armed
conflict with more than one nation
since it was promulgated. Il will be
remembered that due to conditions in
Mexico, situation was fast devel-
oping which would have put the Mon
roe Doctrine to severe test had not
the European war started and drawn
the attention of our sister nations
elsewhere II set OF individuals re-
.st.I Ia. a. al
munity, have an agreement, which
may be likened unto the Monroe Doc
. trine in this nation. they will not per-
nit their agreement to be broken or
violated without resorting to legal OF
possible physical encounter. This
same illustration fits the case OF the
/ United States and its Monroe Doctrine
Tho time will be forthcoming, as II
almost was I'm 1914. for us to either
] recede from our stand known as the
I Monroe Doctrine, or else to fight tC
uphold IT, A fight Will he unnecessary
If we are sufficiently strong in arma
ment to cause a nation to hesitate be
fore attacking us. A concrete exam
pie of being properly prepared 1,
| presented to us on the one side i'm the
Nbot VI oNitNNi idAu duu ilbtidnut anu
on the opposite side in the case OF Bel
= gium, which. had it been properly pre-
pared. would not now he offering III
its fair land to the devasting forces o.
both foes.
The lesson offered by Belgium a.
contrasted by Switzerland and Hol
land, cannot be too strongly consid
} cred at this time.
"The present war has shown tha
= treaties. like agreements between in
dividuals. can be broken easily anC
arc not binding except when backec
, up by force.
, Have Longest COaStline.
Let us examine at close range
, few details with respect to our de
{ fensive units and our problems OF de
fonse. We have the longest vulner
q able coastline OF any nation on tn,
globe. extending along the Atlanti,
, and Pacific oceans. and the Gulf o
; Mexico. These coastlines are studde,
. with any number OF deep water har
bers and estuaries. upon which ar,
, located some OF the richest and fines
: cities and lands upon the face OF tn
; globe. In order TO defend this exten
} sive coastline from an attack by sea
we have in our navy today eight O
the so-called dreadnaught type Of bat
1 tleships. All OF these vessels are ol
% the Atlantic seaboard. I mention tn