New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-14
TOO PROUD TO PREPARE
Had We Been Properly Armed Germany
Would Not Have Attacked Us

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Will you allow me once more to ex-
press my qualification in reading the edl-
torials in your paper Of the last two days
and also the letters which have appeared
on your editorial page respecting the wal
and Germany?
In our war with Spain we were IN conflict
with the Spanish government and our people
to their credit, held no grudge against such
Standards as we're in the United States, ano
greeted Admiral Cervera, after the loss OF
his feet, so cordially as TO cause him vast
establishment. / hope and believe that SIM
liar cordial relations should be maintained
as regards not only citizens OF German eA'
traction, but all Germans who are found
with US if war should result, excepting only
the comparatively small body OF German
spies who are undoubtedly among US and
who take the risks imposed by their calling
The time ought to be long gone by when
any man should be hated because OF his
race, particularly in view of the fact that
our racial descent.
We are now enjoined to forget all differ
ences and to "get behind" the President
No doubt as good citizens we are under
obligation to back him up, but there are
certain things of which we cannot entirely
lose sight and which do not add to COM
fort.
We have seen two and one-half years OF
war, and therefore two years and a half OF
opportunity for preparedness, practically
wasted. We know that we have to depend
upon a Congress sufficiently short-sighted to
have allowed all of this time to elapse
without practical action, Congress re-
sponsble for the Hay army bill, under
which the hexican fiasco has occurred, q
law which wasted large sums of public
money and resulted in the sending to the
front of many men who should only have
been drafted at the last extremity, men
whose positions and families made it highly
inexpedient for them to go. Congress has
sat Idle for two and one-hsf years, and 1t is
only now, and probably too late, that bill
is proposed which would have prevented the
damaging Of the Teutonic ships lying in
New York and other harbors.
A headline in your paper of yesterday
says United States Starts Work on New
Fort TO Guard New York" to which might
have been added two and one-half years
late" Another heading is, Omitted States
Army Chiefs Figure on Force of a Million
Men" 1t is not the fault of the army chiefs
that two and one-half years behind the time
they are figuring on an army"
We can not and should not forget that the
President on whom we must rely scornfully
spoke two years ago of the New York people
as becoming nervous" nor that a certain
prominent Congressman advised his fellows
to vote for a certain recent tax bill on the
ground that their constituents would have
to pay no part of it, but that it would fall
mainly upon the New Workers, who had been
"hollering" for preparedness.
We do not forget and should not forget
that the United States has to thank the
Aero Club of America and the National Sc
curity League for such small degree Of pre-
paredness as has been attained. It is only
within a day or two that bill was intro
duced into Congress authorizing the seizure
by the army and navy Of railroad facilities
in case Of emergency, although this power
should have been granted years ago.
II is gratifying TO see the patriotism dis
played by the private citizens as opportuni
w mas WlLnlN IHt ldSb lew udgo NhobiSu ~
TO be shown.
Fortunately, under the protection of the
English feet we shall have an opportunity
in some degree TO make up for lost time
though our position will never be SIS good
as if Congress and the President had done
their duty two years ago. Had we been
armed, as we might have been, the vast
probability is that Germany never would
have affronted US, and the conditions in
Belgium would have been better, and some
limit might have been set to the Armenian
crime.
1t not infrequently happens that the man
who is too proud to light has to fight, while
the individual who seeks peace by prefer
ence, but of whom it is absolutely certain
that he will make a fierce and dangerous
opponent, remains unmolested.
CHARLES f. MANIERRE.
New York, Feb. 10. 1917.