Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-02
ON THE EVE OF WAR

IN the eve of entering the war
" against Germany, for to-mor-
row, in all likelihood, the President will
recognize officially a condition that
has existed ever since Germany began
ruthless U-boat operations against
United States vessels, it behooves us
to pause and take stock of what we
have in the way of offense and de-
Tense, and how our resources of men,
of gold and of all those things which
count vitally in armed conflict, COM
pare with those of the nation against
which we are about to take up arms.
The United States will add to the
ranks of Germany's foes a nation with
a population of $4,000, 600, whose
stock of gold is as large as the COM
bined gold reserve Of France, Russia
and the United Kingdom, whose pig
iron production is greater than that
of all of the other countries of the
world combined, and whose copper
output in 1915 was twice that of the
rest of the world. So much for our re-
sources and much more might be
written.
A great deal has been said in dis
paragement of the American navy, but
we will enter this war with ISL fight
ing ships and a tonnage of 100000,
ranking third among the navies of the
world, and our merchant marine has
a gross tonnage of S,47O,0OO, which
will be greatly augmented when we
take over the German shipping now in
our ports
Our land forces do not show up so
well, according to figures compiled by
the Chicago Tribune, only about so, 600
regulars and $4,000 trained militia
troops, butwe have more than 81, 100, 900
males from eighteen to forty-five
years of age, and 4,7TS.0 600 of these,
according to reliable estimates, would
not be exempt from national service
because of sickness, physical defects,
industrial necessities or dependent
families. In this respect, the authori-
ties point out that we need not be
discouraged because of the fact that
England entered the war with an
army of only about 200, 200 and i'm
she fought. Added to this is the as
surance of army officers that, owing
to the rapid development of the muni-
ton industry of the country and the
preparations made by the National De-
fense Committee, we can provide ord
nance and equipment for an Ameri-
can army as rapidly as it can be used
in, 0f
Our naval strength, added to that of
the allies, would oppose the navy of
Germany with a fleet nearly three
times that of the Central Powers COM
hined and would make impossible a
Germany victory by gun and man
power on the high seas. We are ini
formed also that the navy of the United
States, through its own officers and
the Naval Consulting Board, has work
ed out many devices that in the event
of war would give us a decided advan-
tage. Also, the navy is to be augment
ed by vast number of submarine
chas ers of unquesdoned utility in the
Impending operations against U-boats.
We have the men, the money. the
anu NHt Will 10 40. WnaI
our course shall be on the seas is per-
fectly plain. What is to be our policy
on land is different matter and there
Is sharp division of opinion as to
whether or not we ought to send
troops Immediately to Europe or hold
them in reserve here for national de-
fense or for quick transportation to
tsx T..
peeted German successes there. This
is one of the big things to be decided
by Congress in special session. and in
that regard 1t Is well to remember that
Italy found 1t impossible to wage sep
crate warfare against Germany and
was compelled to join the entente for
Ielf-protection as well as for effective
aess Of operations. On the other hand.