Admiral Mahan pleaded long with his country for an adequate navy. All the Great Powers of the world except America were stimulated by his logic to strengthen their navies. The beautiful, imaginative, logical language of General Homer Lea, on America's military weakness, in his "Valor of Ignorance" and "The Day of the Saxon," has caused many a gun to be made, many a battalion of troops to be enlisted, and many a warship to be built—in foreign countries.
The eloquent words of wisdom of Lord Roberts, Admiral Mahan, Homer Lea, and all real friends of peace and advocates of the only way of maintaining peace—by being prepared against war—have fallen on a deaf America. I am well aware of the fact that nothing I can say will rouse the people of my country to the reality and magnitude of their danger, and to a true appreciation of the imperative necessity for immediate preparation against war.
Possibly this book may lessen a little the effect of the pernicious propagandism of the pacifists—may somewhat help Congressional appropriations for defense—may place a few more men and a few more guns on the firing-line, and thereby save the lives of a few of our people—may save a few homes from the torch—may lessen the area of devastation—may, by adding a little power to our resistance, help to get slightly better terms from the conquerors for our liberation.
Pacifism has ringed the nose of the American people and is leading them, blind and unknowing, to the slaughter. War is inevitable. It matters not that, if this country could be roused, it might be saved. When it is impossible to vitalize the impulse necessary to the accomplishment of a thing, that thing is impossible. So, I say, war is inevitable and imminent.
The American people could not now be roused sufficiently to avert the impending calamity even by a call that would rift the sky and shake down the stars from heaven!
Fate has decreed that our pride shall be humbled, and that we shall be bowed to the dirt. We must first put on sackcloth, ashed in the embers of our burning homes. Perhaps, when we build anew on the fire-blackened desolation, our mood may be receptive of the knowledge that we must shield our homes with blood and brawn and iron.
Hudson Maxim.
Maxim Park,
Landing P.O.,
New Jersey.
March, 1915.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| Preface | [vii] | |
| Introduction. Our Great Obsession | [xiii] | |
| I | Dangerous Preachments | [1] |
| II | Can Law be Substituted for War? | [22] |
| III | Our Inconsistent Monroe Doctrine | [56] |
| IV | Modern Methods and Machinery of War | [68] |
| V | The Needs of Our Army (With Letter from General Leonard Wood) | [113] |
| VI | The Needs of Our Navy | [141] |
| VII | Language of the Big Guns | [181] |
| VIII | Aërial Warfare | [203] |
| IX | Our Armaments not a Burden | [222] |
| X | Ego-Fanatic Good Intentions and Their Relation to National Defense | [235] |
| XI | A Dangerous Criminal Class? | [247] |
| XII | The Good and Evil of Peace and of War | [265] |
| Conclusion. What Shall the End Be? | [306] | |
| Index | [309] |