The Detroit times., 1916-06-06
Slaughter and Waste
OF War Should Teach
Uncle Sam a Lesson

k The people of the United States can
ind food for thought in the terrible
naval battle fought off the coast of Den
mark in which nearly score of British
and 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
Dea?
And when we are through enumerat-
ing the long list of losses, from men
and ships to the unreasonable grief of
men, women and children whose lives
ne ruined; the burden of ever increas-
Ing taxation, the duties imposed upon
mothers by the loss of the bread-winners,
the whole, awful, sickenig horror, what
~ the gain7
81 Has anything been really accomplished
III settled!
~ Has any one been beaten, and, if so,
what then?
ID Britain says that her supremacy of
tie seas has not been shaken. Germany
rays her losses will not materially Grip
NE her. Each claims victory, and no
me has advanced.
The whole wretched slaughter which
I M been taking place for months along
- Verdun line of battle, the routing Of
ne Serbians, the conquest Of Poland, the
Epecupation of Belgium - have these
Kings settled anything?
f We know that they have not and that.
E)naily, an arbitration board will have to
~ brought into being to draw up treaties
md give back, in all probability, Belgium
md Serbia to their own people and give
Poland autonomy.
81 One side will receive more indemnity
lhan another, perhaps, and few strips
o6 land in Africa will change hands, but
what will this amount to in the face of
The losses?
x. IL preparedness is TO be considered
from . reasonable standpoint, there can
! - no such thing. 1t is circle, for it
has no end. It's only result is to make
more slaughter possible by 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,
( and can be, no limit but the limit of
credit and taxation.
~ Were the United States to start to
4 prepare now, it would take her more
than 40 years to compete with the mill
I tAry organization of Germany, and it is
not likely that she could ever accom-
Il plish it, for a democratic government
would not tolerate the autocratic militar-
/. Ism which has brought Germany TO its
y High state of efficiency.
Therefore, why should we further pre-
v bare? 1t is like pouring water into a
oieve. Battleships are like egg shells in
\ the face of torpedoes, mines and modern
gums. 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
& h which we were before, minus men,
beats and the position of neutral ma
Ion entitled to higher respect than
ne which is constantly on the alert to
j. back at any provocation.
Will this battle, in the most beautiful
Dcs off the coast of northern Europe,
i've the effect of squirting the Navy
ogue to greater effort in its demand for
- appropriation for more ships, or will
be like a dash of cold water in the
- Of an excited or hysterical person
IS would seem that congress and the
~ Of the United States must see
etnselessness and futility of it ALL