NOT SO DEFENCELESS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 270, 27 April 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

NOT SO DEFENCELESS.

Wo have grown accustomed to regard the military powers of the United States as inadequate to any effective participation in the war. A recent statement of Frederick Palmer, famous war correspondent, that the American navy department has enough secret devices in cold storage to whip the German fleet inside of six months :s therefore something cheering. It is, perhaps, not forgotten that Edison is a member of the navy advisory council, as well as other men who have a national reputation as experts in their particular lines. Mr Palmer suggests that every time the Wizard of Menlc Park thinks of war with the Kaiser he smiles complacently, like a cat that has swallowed a canary. All this is very heartening. There is no doubt that the men of genius whoso talents were long ago mobilised in America s defence have prepared some bizarre features for war that will induce new respect for America's inventive genius, and possibly bring the present war in Europe to an early end. The belligerent nations of Europe have perfected the instruments of war beyond the old plane of fighting. Regments are decimated and thousands of men are killed without coming within sight of their adversaries. German chemistry has introduced sonic deadly features into war's equation. Britain and Franco have been quick to adopt and adjust new instruments of aggression and defence; the ingenuity of Europe has been exerted to the utmost to produce engines of destruction tnat will induce a decisive advantage. Americans have for years been distinguished in inventive genius, and there is doubtless some justification for the claim made by an American journal that many of the more effective weapons of war now used in Europe were originated by Americans and developed and improved by foreigners. If the present war, as Lloyd George says, s a war of equipment, America, having decided to take a hand in the game, may be relied upon to furnish some striking innovations in war's equipment.