Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-11
Editorial Comment
Still PREPARING
(BoSton Herald)

Inere Is no "mobilization con-
| troversy outside the United States,
yet preparations for the next war"
should 1t chance to come, are going
on apace in both Occident and ORR
ent. Japan has just ordered 100000
machine guns from firm in Eng
land. to supply these weapons at the
earnest possible moment the firms
star Is reported to be working night
and day" The French military
authorities are carrying out tests
| with what they call the fastest fight
ing a1rplane in the world" armed
| with four machine guns from which
nre can be directed from all sides
| and either above or below, even when
the plane is speeding at the rate of
nearly 200 miles an hour. italy has
grown active in the same field. Ger
many is said to be developing an air
force, and Russia has in view a large
ly increased Red army.
Turning to England, we read of the
great fleet mobilization which has
Just taken place at Spithead, bringing
together the entire strength of the
royal navy, apart from ships on for
eign service-"the Immediately ready
striking force" as it Is called-aIonp
with the reserve fleet, which attains
TO full commission only in time of
need. Only few days earlier "im-
mense crowds" witnessed the royal
air force pageant at Hendon, bring
ing into view and action Britains
latest developments in air warfare.
At the height of $4,000 feet one of
the nghting planes showed it's capac-
ity TO go over the enemy's lines at
the speed of 40 miles an hour"
Five SHIPPERS from No. rs squadron
bombed disabled tank on the aero
drome." and 'the attack on an
armed merchant cruiser provided a
thrilling finale. They silenced the
anti-craft gun fire, launched their
dummy torpedoes, and after a suit
able interval there was a terrific ex-
plosion. and the raider disappeared in
the most satisfying explosion the
pageant had ever SEEN"
At this moment shooting competi-
tons for boys are being held all over
the British empire. The plan is be-
Ing carried out, with the co-opera-
ton of government officials, army
oficers and school authorities, in
Great Britain, Canada, Australia.
New Zealand and South Africa. 1t
has been decided to award, not only
ordinary army badges, but also titles
such as empire marksman" and
empire first-class shot" The aim Is
to have "a test match on a gigantic
scale within the empire in which
the whole of the youth of each great
state can take part" 1t is hoped
that the competition will knit to-
gether the rising generation of the
empire, today Indifferent to each
other only because they are unin-
formed and left in ignorance" And
the underlying idea" Is declared to,
be to improve musketry efficiency
on the national defence"
why the need of national defencep
The extreme pacifist will assure YOU
that all such preparations increase
the likelihood of war by rendering
people more cocksure, more de-
hant and less willing to compromise
when a crisis looms up. Military
leaders, on the other hand. Just as
sturdy in claiming that they are
lovers of peace, assert that the Sc
curing of efficiency for war is the
same kind of preparation that is
taken In the fire-drill; they are far
from desiring a confiagratfon. Int
propose to be ready for it when it
breaks out. Here is the dilemma
arising out of the impossibility of
knowing what is going to happen.
There are combustible materials in
the worlds life, and what may come
OF them is hardly more practicable
than is the next tornado, tidal wave.
landslide. avalanche, volcano or
earthquake. That man. foremost in
the files of time" should be above
nature in the knowledge Of what he
Is going to do with himself goes
without the saving. But such pre-
science Is denied to "the lord of
creation" and the way cut is plainly
in the direction of unaggressive and
non-provocative defence How many
OF the nations now engaged in prep
aration" will keep within these lin
its?