Increasing War Preparations.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13524, 4 November 1911, Page 8

Increasing War Preparations.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—A significant cable by Reuter from Paris, dated August 4th, says: "The French estimates for 1912 exceed ,£182,000,000, being nearly £7,000,000 more than those for the present year, though economies have been effected in many departments.” The colossal sum ot £352,000,000 has been spent on the British navy within the last 10 years, and each year secs an enormous increase on its predecessor. If you turn to Germany, Russia, Austria, and the smaller kingdoms of Europe, the appalling fact of increased war preparations is staggering, and the aggregate expenditure by the nations oi the world is appalling. Times of trouble there have been, but localised here and there, but such conditions as prevail to-day throughout the civilised world, and uncivilised nations, too, has no procodent. What a satire to the student of economics are the above facts in their relation to Christendom, viz., that the preaching of Jesus Christ, by the churches of to-day, from Rome downwards, will bring about, the spiritual kingdom, when swords are beaten into plough-shares, and spears into pruning-hooks. Your leading article in to-night's “Herald” on “Some Aspects of War,” is very significant, and serves to show the shallowness of men’s aspirations and prognostications that war must cease, vide “The Great Illusion." The writer’s argument in his deductions from existing economic conditions, and the inter-relation of- finance, is that credit must destroy war, but, as you rightly remark, the ridiculousness of this comforting theory is shown by the Turko-Italian war breaking but before the second edition is circulated, this simple concrete fact shattering and slaying the theory of universal peace. It seems a remarkable coincidence of a wellknown verse in the Bible, that when they shall say, ‘‘Peace and safety, then cometb sudden destruction.” For instance. President Taft’s great proposal for peace by arbitration treaty with Britain, which factor has been announced by the press and the peace agitation preached from pulpits all over the British and American dominions, supplemented by thg press, your own articles, optimistic with all others, taking up the peace cry. This once more illustrates another remarkable statement from the Bible, of men’s hearts failing them for fear, wondering what is going to happen next. The Daily News, reporting on this remarkable Peace Treaty, says: “The Anglo-American Arbitration Treaties were signed this afternoon, August 3rd, in the presence of President Taft, in the library of White House. Coincident with the ceremony, which was witnessed byscores of newspaper correspondents and Press photographers, there was a great peal of thunder, accompanied by heavyrain. Mr Taft, who was in a most jovial mood, said, ‘There you are, gentlemen, the atmosphere is relieved already.’ ” What a remarkable omen, for, like a bolt from the blue, war breaks out, the political heavens of all nations looming with heavy black clouds. Yet, Mr Editor' is this not history repeating itself. Go back to the great Hague Peace Society, founded by the Czar of all the Russians, and the reviews and statements by all individuals of high rank—the commencement cf the long era of peace—and, metaphorically speaking, before the signatures are dry, war breaks out, as instance the Britiah-Bocr war. Go hack'to the year 1851, and read Mr Justin McCarthy, in his History of Our Own Times,. Speaking.of the Exhibition, he says:—“ Golden, indeed, were the expectations with which hopeful people welcomed the exhibition of 1851. It was the first organised effort to gather all the representatives of. the world’s industries into one great fair; and there were those who seriously expected that men who had once been prevailed upon to meet together in friendly and peaceful rivalry would never again be. persuaded to meet in rivalry of a fiercer kind. . . . The Hyde Park Exhibition was often described as the festival to open the long reign of peace.” Let history answer. Commencing with the Crimean War, which began almost immediately, followed by the Indian Mutiny, war betweenc Austria and Franco, Prussia, Civil, War in America, FraucoGerman war, Russo-Turkish war, and numerous others. Surely, Mr Editor, when they shall say, “Pence and safetv, then comoth destruction.’’ Is there no panacea, no revelation? Is civilisation always to remain a thin veneer on savagery? Is Christianity a failure, or is Christendom astray?—l am, etc., P.E.T.