AMERICA AND THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 105, 5 May 1915, Page 6

AMERICA AND THE WAR

A German submarine's attack on the American steamer Gulflight again turns the world's gaze upon tho United States, whose Government has tolerated some high-handed treatment by Germany. In Berlin and other cities of the " Father land" a hat)e of the United States has grown since Germany observed the immensity of the supply of American products (munitions and food) to Britain and France. Germany had the same freedom to buy, but Britain's command of the sea brought that right to a nullity. Germany's bitterness against America is mingled with contempt of the Republic's military and naval 'equipment. That English-speaking nation is not prepared for war, and this unreadiness has been frankly and emphatically admitted by writers and cartoonists in 'American newspapers and magazines which are I posted to Germany. The Kaiser's advisers know well the possible difficulties which the United States might have with the millions of "German-American citizens," widely distributed in the great country. In the madness of militarism some of the Prussians may be eager to involve America in the war, but the rational element of the population will know that hostilities with America must eventually do much harm to Germany. It is true that America, while amassing wealth, has turned aside from the comparatively modest cost of an adequate insurance policy. American leaders have had a boundless optimism ; the country's belief has been that threats of war in Europe would "come out all right eomehow," and therefore the Army and Navy have suffered by deplorable neglect. One drawing in the New York Herald portrays Mr. Carnegie, attired as a bagpiper, standing on the edge of a wharf beside "Admiral Scrapple of the Pork-Barrel Fleet." Mr. Carnegie's bag is inscribed "Peace by Proclamation," and beneath the two figures is the line •' "Our National Defences," Tho American continental army consists of only 1495 regular officers and 29,405 men, and an organised militia of 8323 officers and 119,087 men— a maximum of 158,310. "Three-fourths of these are only partially trained/s ays a well-known American military writer, and other experts have made similar comments, which have aroused the public. One sequel is the unofficial "American Legion," in which 50,000 men were enrolled during the first month of recruiting. The naval vote for this year is 87,000,000 dollars (over £18,000 ; 000), an increase of 30,000,000 dollars (over £6,000,000). The people have at last perceived the unwisdom of blind faith in an ability of the world to "right itself" without risk to American dollars. Though the preparations to command world-wide respect for America's flag will take time, this country of a hundred million people is no weakling at present. Germany could make a very costly blunder in a deliberate cult of enmity, with the United States.