The Washington times., 1922-09-30
DANCER0F
WAR EVER
PRESENT
Turkey, Primarily Responsible
, For World War, Is Again
Active and Militant.
BY JAMES II. GLENNON,
Rear Admiral United states Navy,
Retired.


men are facing each other with
rifles in their hands, one fellow
is not inclined to lay down his arms
until the other one does. If neither
Of them do so, they are going to
remain armed.
Of course, the United States does
not intend to scrap any of it's need
full ships until all the other sigma
tory powers do. Whether it ever
Awill so dispose of them time alone
will disclose. Meanwhile, l think
we shall remain on guard.
France Is Justified.
The intention Of France rs to
reducing the strength Of her navy
seems to be pretty we'll defined. I
do not blame her in the least for
not wishing to reduce her forces
afloat or on shore. She is com.
PEELED, as a matter Of self interest,
to keep prepared for eventualities,
at all times, and the present con-
dition OF things in Europe eeem to
make this policy more necessary
now than ever. France and Italy,
too, have had some pretty hard
knocks, but France more particu-
larly. and 1t is quite the wise thing
for her to be ready for whatever
may arise. Things move suddenly
and unexpectedly In Europe, very
often, 30 reasonably enough she Is
not disposed to take chances.
The fact is, Congress is not
primarily to blame for the reduc-
ton of our navy and army. 1t
goes further back than that. Con-
gress, after all, only carries out the
wishes of the people.
Unfortunately, since the world
war, there has been a lot OF back.
sliding, and, IL may use the term,
, Of "pussyfooting" by some people
who may be we'll meaning, perhaps,
but who are short sighted. and who
, do not realize that human nature
cannot be changed overnight. They
refuse to believe that war may ever
come again, although warfare be-
tween peoples has been going on
for thousands of years. Many in
dividuals holding this line OF
thought asserted that after the civil
war there would be no more war
ware. They said the same thing
following the Spanish-American war.
They have been saying II ever
since the end OF the world war,
ing the same sentiments hundreds
and thousands OF years hence.
Nations are like many individuals.
II men meet in anger, one OF them
armed and the other unarmed-un-
prepared-the man who is armed
and ready has the greater ad-
vantage over the other fellow.
Scrapping Ships Unwise.
40
stop to ask themselves where we or
society. everywhere, would have been
in the world war II we had not been
safeguarded by an army and a navy.
And yet, there are many people
throughout the land who cannot be
convinced, apparently, of the need
of preparedness. They use their in
fluence with Congress to reduce our
naval and military strength. afloat
and ashore. The responsibility which
they and the out-and-out pacifists
assume is great.
Still. when the emergency arises,
the United States. Of which I am
speaking more directly, meets 1t, al.
though at disadvantage in the ear
lier stages. But at what a cost!
The expenditures which could have
been made by degrees in time of
DeaCe WllIOul lhS
try's affairs are forced upon us at
once, with what results we had occa.
sion to find out in the world war.
The situation which has arisen In
Europe almost overnight, one might
say, and which Is so seriously threat
ening it's peace, Is an excellent illus
tration Of the need OF being prepared
for emergencies. With a bound, Tur-
KEY has reappeared on the European
stage. What will happen no one can
foretell, but the present episode
proves how needful and wise 1t Is to
be ready for what may turn up.
One does not buy an umbrella, usu'
ally, after a rainstorm has COM
menced, but before.
Since, It In, that the scrapping OF
ships and the cutting down OF the
strength of our army, the two first
lines of defense, are very serious
steps to undertake.
Keep Out Of Row.
I have been asked how / regard
the advisability of the United States
taking part in the present European
disturbances. say, keep out OF 1t.
We have no business mixing up in
them. Let the nations directly in
volved settle their own troubles,
which are no concern Of ours.
The present trouble, Of course, Is
due entirely to the Turks. 1t is the
same old story over again. Turkey
has always been a bone Of conten.
ton over there. I think that had II
not been for Turkey there would
have been no world war. She was
dragged, and not unwillingly perhaps,
into II. Now the row has started
again, with a small different setting,
IL is true, but the background is
there still.
Control Of the Dardanelles is what
the powers seek, and long have
sought or what use would he the
internationalizing OF the straits? In
time of peace there would be no OBJ
lection by any one to their naviga-
tion, with access to the Black sea,
while in time of war rinternationaliza.
ton would mean nothing. The jeal-
ousies of nations makes the reach.