Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-20
ARMIES, NAvIEs AND PEACE


General Scott and Wood were before the Chamberlain
Senate committee Monday giving their opinions as to the
needs of the country in the way of army They were
emphatic in their opinions that it would not be safe with
less than army of 100000 and with reserve force
of an equal number that could be placed in the field with
in 90 days They both agree upon England and Japan
being the nations apt to have trouble with and 1t
is against these is necessary to guard With regard TO
the size of the armies needed Of with the ma
tons named their judgment is doubt correct unless it
is understaed but to the possibility OF probability OF
our having with both these nations they are
perhaps not well qualified to express an opinion as
those outside Of the military profession
Over the wires yesterday along with the statement OF
these generals came statement from another military
leader who announced that within year every coast city
would be protected from any and all enemies by the pac
ing of heavy guns with range Of 10000 yards which
would make it impossible for enemy ship to come with
in shooting distance of any of these cities or ports
This would leave the only source from which the coun
try could be attacked through either Canada or Mexico
This being the it strikes outsider that 1t is not
large army that is needed but navy superior to any
1t would put America in the place now claimed by Great
Britain as mistress of the SEAS and with navy as large
and powerful as those of any two other nations If we
controlled the SEAS there would be no need OF armies we
have lived at peace with neghbor Canada for more
than hundred years under an agreement about dis
armament as to each other there being forts along
three thousand miles of mutual boundary and there is no
reason why we should not continue to live so indefinitely
The United States has shown that it has designs on
any of its neghbo1s property and is showing exemplary
patience with its southern neghbor in her civil troubles
With England have treaty that c0mpes each country
to submit its disputes to arbitration and not to go to war
until one year after the supposed arises Neither
Great Britain nor this country apt to violate solemn
treaty and there not danger from that source AS for
Japan it preposerous to suppose she has any desire TO
get into war with this country and equally preposerous
to suppose she would undertake to invade our territory
even should we go to war; Her attacks would be prob
ably confined to attacking and taking the Philippines
which she could undoubtedly do whether she could hold
them or not Besides if we should get into with
these countries as has been suggested it would be
saly then to build superior navy before we could get
anywhere" With our present navy Engands plan would
he to do us lust what she has done to Germany, bottle
up and shut lis off from communication with the balance
of the world She could make on us without coming
near our coasts fighting battle What would be the
result? We would have to build navy strong enough
to compete with her. This being the case why not put
our money! such of it as we propose to invest in war
preparation into navy rather than an army?
Aside from all this kind of idle presupposng does any
one believe that the people of any of the nations
war would permit their government to begin another
when this one is over? The belief is growing that when
this war is finally settled there will be permanent peace
with guaranty by all the nations This is what the al
lies are fighting for now This is why France is pouring
out her best blood and assuming overwhelming debt
She wants to be free for all time of fear of Germany
She wants peace that she will not be disturbed IN
the possession Of whatever territory she has when the
war ends This is what England is after too She wants
nermanent peace and settlement of European affairs
that will again such holocaust as the pres
ent one If this result is accomplished there will be no
further use for great standing armies or tremendous
naves These will be regulated in the final settlement