UNPREPARED FOR WAR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 903, 25 February 1908, Page 5

UNPREPARED FOR WAR.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association-Hy Electric Telegraph Copyright.

UNITED STATES AND HER FORCES,

MR TAFT SPEAKS OUT

Received February 25, 12.37 a.m. NEW YORK, February 24.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the birthday of George Washington (the first President of the United States), Mr W. H. Tafc (United States Secretary of War) speaking at Buffalo, emphasised America's unpreparedness for war. "We arc making uur Navy more respectable yearly," said Mr Taft, "and are hopeful that Congress will make the army proper the nucleus of a rapid defence and into a force co-nmensurate with our population and the jurisdiction we territorially exercise." Mr Taft added: "Our coast defences at Hawaii, at the Philippines and at the Isthmian Canal, are still incomplete. In the event of war delay would justify the severest condemnation. Our defence is .slowly improving, and if war is averted for a decade it will be in a better condition than ever before." General Fredk. Grant, of New York, also d.velt on America's unpreparedness for war, and declared that in the event of a conflict with Japan the United States would have to provide a million soldiers to garrison the Pacific Coast and a million to garrison the Atlantic coast.