Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-06-22
ARTICLE VIII
Reduction of Armaments


est point consistent with national
safety and the enforcement by COM
mon action of international obliga-
tons. Taking account OF the geo.
graphical situation and circumstances
of each state, the Council is to formu-
late plaps for such reduction for the
consideration and action ct the sew
eral governments. The League mem
bers agree to exchange full informa-
ton as to the scale of their arma-
ments, their military and naval pro-
grams and their warlike industries.
After adoption by the several govern
ments of the plan of reduction, the
limits of ornaments therein fixed are
not to be exceeded without rae con.
cIrrence of the Council. The plans
are to be reconside .el ard feri5co at
least every ten years. The League
members agree chat the manufacture
ny private enterprise Of mum lon; a
and implements of war is open to
grave objections and the council is
to advise how these evils can be pre-
vented.
This is the first of the four great
steps toward securing permanent
peace in the League Constitution and
is as important as any. One of the
great factors in bringing on this war
and in making it what it was was
the race in ornaments between the
European nations. Prussia under Bis
marck perfected its military estab-
hshment by winning three wars, first
against Denmark, secondly against
Austria and then against France
thus the German Empire was made in
1871. From that time on the German
armament has been increased and has
kept pace with the growth of Ger
man desire for world domination. A
thorough and drastic system of con-
scription, military training and re-
serves, built up the German military
establishment so that it was a perfect
machine and far more formidable
than that of any other goeernment.
Fear of it prompted every continent
al nation not in alliance with Ger
many to enlarge its armament. Ger
many's allies, Austria and Italy, join
ed in the race at her instance. Thus
these huge war establishments went
on increasing from decade to decade.
After time Germany acquired naval
ambition, and then the race began
between her and Great Britain.
Evils of Militarism.
The inevitable result of all of this
with it's intent was war and war came
The evils may be easily summarized.
First: Grievous burdens of taxa
ton were imposed upon the peoples
of the competing countries. Their pro-
ducing capacity was seriously impair
ed by consuming three years of the
best producing part of the lives of
their young men.
Second: Consciousness of the pow
err of such military establishment
produced a turbulence and bullying
tendency on the part of Germany who
kept ahead in the race. The Kaiser
Haunted to the world the diplomatic
triumphs he achieved py standing
forth in his Shining armor.' His
military machine and his knowledge
of the defects of the Russian and
Frenc! machines led him to improve
the occasion Of the Austrian Serbian
difficulty to seek war before the de-
fects tf his rivals could be supplied.
Thus the race of armament brought
on this war.
Third: The grownth of these enor-
nous ornaments under such condl-
tions have made this war the most de-
structive in history. Peoples and civ
ilizations have been the objects of at
tack, not armies merely. The killing
of noncombatants, old men, women
and children anA@the permanent de-
VISITATION of enemy country have beer
features of the German campaigns
and all because the vast military
preparations and the organizations
of suitable machinery led to this
method of winning lasting victory
and permanent conquest.
This succession of causes with the
result is bound to occur again unless
the great powers of the world lead
all nations to suppress suoh danger
our competition. The end is to be
achieved so far as Germany, Austria
and Turkey are concerned by compui-
sory terms of peace. The drastic pro-
visions of the treaty just presented
to the Germans for their signature
leave no doubt on this point
International Restraint
But how as to the othe-' nations
How can they be restrained! mo
o+ber method has been or can be
suggested but by an agreement such
as Is embodied in the League. why
should the United States not enter
+he agreement? 1t is objected that
+o foreign body in which 1T mas
onIv one representative the limiting
of its power to defend itself from
foro;on aggression and possible de-
at,,,ction It is said that it leaves us
.a.a1.od RI onr enemies"