THE WORLD MILITANT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 47, 25 February 1908, Page 6

THE WORLD MILITANT.

Mr. Secretary IV ft's speech on the anniversary of Washington's birthday, reported in our cable messages this afternoon, may bo taken as an additional warning to thoughtful Americans that "the white man's burden" of civilisation implies even a heavier burden of military preparation in order to strengthen the back that carries tho load. "Wo are making our navy more respectable yearly," said Mr. Taft, "and we are hopeful that Congress will make the army a proper nucleus of a system of defence that can be rapidly organised — will make it a force commensurate with our population and with the jurisdiction wo territorially exercise." The speech may serve as a wholesome corrective to the boasting of the Yellow Press, which never tires of representing Uncle Sam as ready to lick creation with one hand in the shortest time on record. Something more than boasts, however — something more than wealth and population — will be needed to save America from heavy loss if she- is matched against a military Power that is able to evade her navy and land troops, cither upon the eastern or western coast. Before her potential army can bo organised such an enemy might deal a smashing blow at New York or San Francisco. It comes as a surprise to many people to learn that the American army, upon which the heavy task of defence will be placed in the event of a serious conflict, numbers only 67,000 men on a pence footing, and 100,000 on a war footing. The American army, in fact, is inferior in size to that of little European States like ftoumania and Bulgarin; md, compared with the five millions of trained men that Ger many enn put into the field, it looks trifling iudeod. America hitherto has relied uppn her impressive bulk, and her lack of foreign entanglements. Now that she has entered upon tho task of colonisation, and ha,s added the responsibility of Cub'- and Philippines to all the rsspoiifcioilities fhe must undertake upon her own continent,' she requires, iii her own vernacular, a better hand behind tho bluff. American prestige will be almost p.s seriously damaged if an enemy succeeds in making good a footing in the Philippines, as if the attack were pressed home on the sacred s.oil of tho Union itself Where the flag of the Stars and Stripes waves, there tho credit of the United Stntc3 must be maintained as jealously as in Washington. 'Mr. Taffc pointed out also that the Panama Canal works were unprotected, and said truly that in the event of war delay would justify the severest condemnation. It would be given, of course, by the pens of a thousand newspapers furious with an Administration which would .be held responsible for Iho country's humiliation, should that occur; and the men in power, whoever they might happen to be, would receive the full force of a storm pf popular indignation, careless jf 'reason and justice in its deed of % victim Tho armies of the world — the total of men who have been drilled and trained and for whom weapons have been nominally provided in Hip. event of war — muster no fewer than twenty-seven millions on a war footing Germany, wilh fivo millions, and Russia, ivith the same, mimber, head tho .list. Then oome France, claiming 4,350,000; Italy, with 3,000,000; and Austria, with 2,600,000. Turkey has 1,600,000. Japan's war strength is stated at only one million ; but Japan persistently under-estimates her strength in order to surpn.se the adversary. Besid<~ these fignres, the armies of the great English-speakmc countries — Britain with 343,000, and America with 100,000 — seem small indood. They rely on sea-power; but public opinion, both in Britain and America, appears to be growing more and morn doubtfu' of the policy of putting ail tlio eggs in one basket. And there- seems to be no escape from * the necessity nf keeping tho guns always ready, and the men always ready behind them If al' nations had attained the same level jf civilisation, it might be possible for int?lhgent democracies to make some compromise with the greedy demands of Bellona ; though it is not easy to we how, with tho war check once removed, a peaceable solution would be found for all the problems of expanding and competitive populations. Still, an alliance of the more advanced European nations might in time be practicable , and such an alliance could dominate and repress any aggression clue to the accidents of growth in more barbaric States such as Russia. But the uprising of Asia, that incalculable military quantity ; has ended all dreams of universal peace Europe •night defend herself by treaties against Europe ; but there is no trust to be placed in Asi.i. Consequently if all the quarrels of the White men were arranged, the peril of tho Yellow men would still necessitate tho preservation of a posture of defence, and, foi tho security of the race, men must still be taken from the loom and the forge or theii modern counterparts, and converted as quickly as may be into defenders of their country, possible food for powder The waste of wealth and energy upon war has bscii a favourite topic of sentimentalists, and a grief to many men shrewder than fcentimentalisls, ever since war has devastated lands and laid A'aste cities. It is Nature's method of securing the survival of the fittest ; but men have learned to deem Nature barbaric, and to win hero and there a humane foothold above her perennial waves of strife. It is that foothold, however slight it be, that there is still neceßsity to arm to*defeiul. War is horrible; war is stupid ; but ,it least it is better than breaking the dykes in order to admit the (lood of Asia. While the menace subsists, the preparation for meeting the menace must continue — at whatever cost, and with whatever aauiikea, And

the menace has grown rnoi'e formidable in the last decade, since Japan brought Russia to tho dust and planted her feet firmly on the path of Asiatic regeneration. Japan, exhausted by her efforts, is quiescent now and humble ; but her efforts continue ceaselessly, and it would be folly to neglect one stone in the wall of defence against A&iatic attack.