South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-11
FOLLY TO PREPARE
SAYS DR.. EDWARDS
If America is Truly Christian
Nation She Will Not Pre-
pare for War.

Disclaiming from the pulpit that
he had transferred his political af-
filiations from or TO any political
party. in his anti-preparedness ser /
mons that he is delivering during
the month of September, DIR. Loren
Edwards told his congregation Sun
day night that the pathOs OF the
whole matter in America today is
that there is no political program
against preparedness and for lasting
peace.
Launching into mis- second of the
series OF pacific addresses he is to
make with the admitted enthusiasm
OF a new convert, and admitting that
ne had been swept off his feet by
the campaign of scaredness that had
been set up by lingo politicians and
editors, when the European con-
| fict got under way DR.. Edwards in
forceful style set out in detail many
OF what he termed the follies of the
program of preparedness to which
the American citizen is asked 10
| subscribe.
Futility of Preparedness.
DR.. Edwards dwelt at length on
| the futility Of attempting TO prepare,
as a means OF procuring world and
lasting peace. He asked his audience
to ponder whether this country
should build a navy as big as Eng
lands. And il so he asked, why
should that guarantee peace.
| Moreover" he declared. IF We
must have navy. why not build
one as great as the combined navies
OF England and Germany. and bleed
/! the resources of America to accom-
plish such a feat. And, if that be
| done. what Is there 20 prevent a
| combination Of nations ia a large
league. 10 answer the cal'enge thus
Haunted in their face? II no war
within ten years, then ali these mon
ster ships are ready anyhow for the
scrap heap.
Let US not listen to the apologist
| who claims that if the nations of
Europe had been fully prepared this
war would not have happened. If
| theye were were not fully prepared,
they were not fully prepared.
| they ever could be.
I'm the last fifty years the nations
of Europe have strained their last
nerve in getting ready. In that time
IL is estimated between forty and
| fifty billions had been spent by them
in their preparedness policy.
Nations Increase Military Service
France had increased her mill
tary service from two to three years,
while her military budget was as
heavy as the people could bear Rus
| id had borrowed an hundred mil
| lions for her forts. Great Britain
! had enlarged her navy until at the
| last regular review there were mar
| shalled 2S miles of fighting ships,
| and English papers. all aglow at this
| greatest demonstration OF sea power
the world had ever beheld. declared
i that Great Britain was prepared
| Germany had brought her WELL
Known efficiency TO the summit of
| military perfection. Her armies were
| equipped. her officers were trained.
| her plans Of possible campaigns
| were all elaborated with complete
| Teutonic eXactitude. All orders were
| 'eady in certain officials desk pi-
! reon-hole. no matter what the emer-
| sency. The concrete platforms. not
| ,nly on her own frontiers. but in
/ Belgium, Poland and Austria were
! 'lready laid for her immense field
| guns
IF it was Russia that would strike
he knew what 10 do: if il was
rance. she knew; if il was England
he knew. If II was any other ma
1 ON Qrr- fv-n Of tbor,
! r number Of nations, she was APP
'arently prepared. the plans had
1een worked out in detail and in
| 'Cvance. If Germany was not pre-
AIRED. then preparedness was a
arce. Ave. farce it is Because.
repaired as she was. moving. mobI-
izing. driving. cOnquering. all in
'reath as she did. she couldn't reach
Paris. her great objective.
Hue and Cry Is Ridiculous.
Even Germany's preparation was
Inadequate and futile. as was the
PREPARATION OF England. or Of
rance. or OF Russia. or of any Of
ne rest. If Europe's preparedness
vas against war. then il was a CO.
cssal failure. for war came. And
his hue and cry in America about
Preparedness is a ridiculous farce
Military and naval preparedness is
he folly of futiHty Ii is the su-
rene effort which ends in failure
is a hideOus. CHASTITY fiasco.
If America would prepare she
must prepare against the world
such preparedness along military
| Ines is impossible and unthinka BILE
I America would prepare. let her
prepare in other realms. Let her
arm herself with friendship. Let
her equip herself with sacrifice. Let
her fortify herself with service. She
ried this once; she returned certain
millions OF indemnity TO China after
the Boxer war"
VIOLATES CITY ORDINANCE.
swan Johnson W. eth ST. was
fined SIS Monday morning by Judge
F'tig for riding a motorcycle upon