The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-20
BY REAR ADMIRAL BRADLEY A.
EIsINE. 4. -. n


In view of the fact that the
United States finds itself in a po-
sitiOn relatively to Japan which
contains elements of possible ma
tiOnal danger, since a serious an
tagOnism Of material interests CO.
exists with unpreparedness of
armament on our part, the question
naturally arises, What is the best
thing to do?"
Inasmuch as this question will
probably come before the confer
ence on limitation OF armament in
some form. it would be presumptu-
Gus for me to try to answer it in
its immediate aspect There can
be no improperly, however, in my
pointing out that the fundamental
cause of the situation is what Ad-
miral Mahan called preparedness
OF mind" or in my suggesting
measures for correcting it.
should Consult Strategists
AS a navy officer of experience,
may be presumed to have a fair
conception of the role of naval
strategy in supporting national
policy. For this reason l will
avoid any discussion of policy, be-
yond stating that, in order to in
sure the ability of the national
armament to lend adequate support
to any national policy, it has al
ways been found advisable. for the
statesmen to confer with the strate-
gists before they launch the policy.
At the present crisis our arma-
ment seems unequal to the task Of
enforcing our policy of the open
door, in case Japan should refuse
to accede to it. But this is no new
condition. Our armament seemed
unequal to supporting our policy in
1916, 1912, 1915. 1861. 1898 and 1914:
with the result that bloody and
costly wars had to be waged in or
der to enforce 1t.
Up to the present time we have
always been able to overcome the
handicap of our unpreparedness
sufficiently to escape disaster, for
the sole reason that we have never
had to fight war except with all
the advantage on our side. But we
have never tried even to ascertain
the cause of our recurring condi-
tiOns of unpreparedness. and have
lapsed back into unpreparedness
Immediately after each war ended
with the result that, as soon as
the next war caught us, We have
had to pass through the same
agOnies of violent preparation.
enormous losses in blood sand
money, and enormous increase of
national debt.
Must be Ready for Emergency.
We are like many men and
women, who take no reasonable
care of their health. with the re-
suit that they are continually be-
coming sick. Both the sensible
man and the sensible nation have
to meet the usual emergencies of
life; but both keep in such state
of health that they are. prepared to
meet such emergency as ii ap-
pears.
Unfortunately, the United States
has not been sensible nation, and
has not guarded it's health The
result has been that, although it
has thus far been able to survive,
just as many young man and
woman with a fine constitution has
been able to survive a long career
ow luxurious living. yet it has not
only suffered much more in war
than was necessary. and paid out
much more money than was neces-
sary, but it has been an unneces-
sarily long time in recovering.
The United States has never been
prepared for war when war came,
and has never been prepared for
peace when peace came. We look
down on Germany and Japan as
"militaristic." Yet. in many WAYS.
they seem to get on better than we.
Certainly they have never bees
thrown into such spasms by war.
Depends on Mental Attitude
Now. why have Germany and ia
pan been prepared and the United
States not prepared Why were
the five wise virgins prepared and
the five foolish virgins unprepared9
Why are some men' and women
continually caught unprepared.
while other men and women are
not? Why are some people con-
tinually falling sick while Others
are not?- Largely because of a
difference I'm mental attitude to-
ward the hard facts Of life.
Men and nations who maintain
themselves in condition of ALL
round preparedness do not allow the
pleasures and the Injuries of life
To become so vital TO their souls as
to lead to over-indulgence. either
physical or mental
They keep themselves in good
condition by simple living, abund-
ant exercise, both physical and
mental, and by constant effort to