Evening star., 1934-04-17

nouncing the Army is waste of
energy that might be more profltably
directed. 1t would be as logical to
say that fire deparements cause fires.
and that the way to stop fires Is to
disband our fire departments.
Our six major wars were all
started by the people, for whenever
Congress has declared war it has
always been in response to public
opinion. The people are therefore a
fruitful cause Of war. If those who
claim that one of the ways to prevent
was is to abolish the Army pretend
to be consistent, they must also say
that another way to prevent war is to
abolish the people. That is the reduc-
ito ad abSurdam Of the argument
and exposes its fallacy. Since We
cannot abolish nor even reduce the
people, and since it is not in accord
with our political philosophy to con-
troll the utterances of newspaper ora
tors and jingoistic propagandists, who
incite the people, to war. the most
rational way to promote world peace
is through education, exhortation, in
ternational understanding and the
promotion Of good will.
"As a matter Of fact, there is a
touch of ahsurdity in the peace advo-
Gates on the one hand and the Army
and Navy on the other hand standing
off and snarling at each other, for
they both have the same objective.
Instead Of fighting each other, they
ought to unite in fighting the COM
mon foe.
"Pacifists Are Idealists."
"The peace advocates" said Secre-
tary Dern, ARE idealists and live in
an imaginary world of intelligence,
honesty, justice, tolerance and good
will-the world Of our dreams and as
pirations, which We have never yet
approached. Soldiers are realists.
They take the world as they find it
and as it has always been. They face
the facts. I believe these two ought
to understand each other better and
to cooperate in the great effort to
make war more remote"
The War Secretary denied that 1t
was the mission of the Army to
NEEDLE with economic and political
questions, even though those ques-
tions are the most potent causes of
war;
THE most dangerous situation
that we could have in this country"
he said, would be to have the Army
meddling in political questions, be-
cause military usurpation OF the Gov
ernment would then be near at hand"
Outlining some of the causes of
war, Secretary Dern listed trade re-
strictions, mutual distrust, racial and
national prejudices anu lack of some
suitable tribunal to adjudicate inter-
national disputes. Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy Roosevelt declared
proper national defense to be the
best insurance for peace that has
been devised"
Have Common Objective.
"An unlimited naval race is out
of the question:" he explained, land
the only thing that this administra-
ton is trying to do is to build up
the Navy to the strength allowed and
sanctioned by solemn treaties with
other countries.
I'VE have in the Army and Navy
the same objective which the pacifists
have, in that we desire to preserve
peace and to avoid war;" said Mr.
Roosevelt. There are certain groups
who believe that peace can be main
tanned through complete disarma-
ment on our part, regardless of the
action Of other nations; that is, they
insist that the United States set the
example. There are other groups,
to which I am happy to say belong,
who believe that peace can only be
assured through the maintenance of
adequate defenses, both ashore and
afloat." This declaration was greeted
with a salvo of applause from the
assemblage.
In answer to the question, "Why
such big Navy?" the speaker drew
both applause and laughter with the
reply: AN inadequate Navy is just
as useless as no Navy at all. In the
words of Admiral Moffett, a second
best Navy is worth no more than a
second-best poker hand when it Is
called, and there is no sense in vast
ing money to provide for a Navy that
can't take care of the country and
OF itself in any conceivable emer-
gency."
Our Navy is a Navy for defense" {"
he declared, 'but in order to be ade-
quate it must be prepared to repel
attack by taking the offensive; in
other words, proper national defense
Is the best insurance for peace that
has been devised"
Explains Building Project.
When this administration took
Office in March, 1888, Mr.. Roosevelt
said the previous administration had
left the Navy dangerously weak in
many important aspects" so that it
was unified to carry out its vital
mission of supporting our national
policies" A building project now
under way, he explained, includes 2
aircraft carriers, 2 heavy cruisers, 4
light cruisers, "a destroyers and 4
submarines, all of which join the fleet
by 1896. But even then, he said,
the Navy would be 102 ships short of
Its requirements. To meet this sit
uation the Vinson-Trammel act,
which became law March 81, author
ICES the building up OF the American
Navy to a strength which will equal
the strongest" It authorizes an
orderly and balanced schedule Of con.
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