قراءة كتاب Our National Defense: The Patriotism of Peace
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Our National Defense: The Patriotism of Peace
would be about as much protection as a large load of alfalfa hay; and that as part of this military occupancy by Japan of the territory lying between the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the Japanese would dynamite every tunnel, destroy the Colorado River railroad bridges, and fortify the mountain passes; and that the recapture of one pass by the United States would be a more difficult military undertaking for us than was the capture of Port Arthur or Tsing-Tao by the Japanese?
Would it interest you to know that the very real danger that California, Western Oregon, and Western Washington may be annexed to Japan and a thousand miles of deserts and inaccessible mountain ranges, instead of the Pacific Ocean, separate Japan from the United States, is a danger that exists because not one in ten thousand of the people of the United States will give the slightest heed to this question, which overshadows in importance every other question affecting the people of the United States?
Would it interest you to know that there is just as much, and more, danger that the desolating flames of war may sweep over and devastate Southern California as there was that they might sweep over and devastate Belgium? You doubtless will say, "That is impossible!" You would have said the same thing a year ago about Belgium, with much more of assurance and positive conviction.
Would it interest you to know that the doing of the things that would insure peace forever between the United States and Japan, as well as all European nations, would at the same time end all danger from the ravages of destructive floods, stop forest fires, perpetuate our forest resources, preserve the forest and woodland cover on our watersheds, create a great national system of inland waterways, reclaim every reclaimable acre of arid or swamp and overflow land in the United States, and reduce the cost of living by doubling the agricultural production of this country within ten years?
Would it interest you to know that the doing of the same things would end child labor, end woman labor in factories, end unemployment, end the whole multitude of evil and vicious influences that are degenerating humanity and deteriorating the race in the congested cities of this country, and safeguard the United States against the internal as well as the external dangers that now menace its future welfare?
Would it interest you to know that the doing of those same things would inaugurate an era of business prosperity, based on human welfare and advancement, instead of on human exploitation, and would insure the perpetuity of that prosperity?
Would it interest you to know that the things which it is proposed shall be done by the United States have already been done, practically and successfully, by Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand; and that they can and will be done in this country whenever the people wake up and decide to do something for themselves instead of waiting for somebody else to do it for them.
If you doubt any of the foregoing statements, read the book; and you will be convinced of their absolute truth and you will be appalled at the magnitude of the preventable calamity that menaces the people of the United States solely because of their heedlessness, indifference, and refusal to face facts.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I Page
Shall There Be An End of War? 1
Question may be answered in the affirmative by the United States?—Facts must be made known to the people—Nationwide educational campaign is necessary—Every individual must be aroused to action—Appalling consequences of triumph of militarism—United States must lead the world in its overthrow—Cannot be dependent for peace on coöperation of other nations—Appalling losses may result from public apathy and indifference—Necessity for national policy for flood prevention—Naval is out of balance—Other things more needed than battleships—Nationalisation of manufacture of armaments and battleships—There must be an end of private profit from such manufacture—It inspires militarism and stimulates war.
CHAPTER II
Inadequacy of Militarist Plans for National Defense 24
Militarists believe war inevitable—Urge United States is unprepared—Peace Advocates leave to Militarists all plans for National Defense—Militarists have no adequate plan—Enormous cost of large standing army—Menace of a military despotism—No reliance can be placed on State Militia—Impracticability of a Reserve composed of men who have served in the Regular Army—War must be recognised as a possibility—Hypocrisy of opposition to war by those who profit from so-called civilized warfare—Peace Propaganda must be harmonized with national defense—All plans far world Peace have thus far proved futile—United States spends enormous sums on Army without any guarantee of national defense—The Frankenstein of War can be controlled.
CHAPTER III
Impregnable Defense Against Foreign Invasion 44
Plans for national defense must primarily operate to prevent war—Reasons why War Department will never devise satisfactory system—Militarists have no sympathy with peace movement—It aims to render military profession obsolete—Standing Army is economic waste of money and men—It should be a great educational institution—Chairman Hay of Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives, shows enormous cost of Standing Army and impracticability of Reserve as proposed by Army Officers—Comparison of Military Expenditures and Results in United States and Japan—Increase of Standing Army to 200,000 would be futile and unwarranted—European War will not bring disarmament—Warning of Field Marshal Earl Roberts—Standing Army promotes military spirit which increases danger of war.
CHAPTER IV
National Construction Reserve 74
Enlistment of Construction Corps in government Services in time of peace—Transformation of same organization into military force in time of war—National forces must be organized for conflict to save, not destroy, life and property—Forest Service and Reclamation Service work should be done by Reservists enlisted in Construction Corps—Same system should be adopted in all government services—Construction Reserve to be so trained as to instantly become army of trained soldiers whenever needed—More than work enough in time of peace for a million Reservists—planting forests—fighting forest fires—preventing floods—irrigating deserts—draining swamps—building highways, waterways, and railways—Importance of safeguarding nation against destruction by Nature's invading forces.
CHAPTER V