“The term, a ‘fool’s paradise,’ describes to perfection the dreamland in which Americans have slumbered for years in their complacent indifference to national defence.” (Huidenkoper’s _Military Preparedness_, p. 252.)
“We never want to face another (war) in such ridiculous helplessness as has crippled us in facing this one.” (_New York Mail_, Ed. July 26th, 1917.)
“More than thirty months after the outbreak of the European War, with all its terrible lessons, we have still to lay the statutory foundations of a proper system of land-defense.” (H. L. Stimson, _Scribners’_, April, 1917.)
“The United States of America is prepared for war neither commercially nor physically.... We have neither a merchant fleet to carry our commerce nor any army and navy to protect it.” (_Chicago Evening Post_, Feb. 14, 1917.)
“The crisis finds us unprepared.” (_Chicago Tribune_, Feb. 15th, 1917.)
A well-known authority on naval and military affairs, writing in the _Outlook_ of April 11th, 1917, says, p. 651:
“The greatest fault in democracy is the lack of imagination of its administrators. Our press are held in the hollow of the hands of political men whose knowledge of the art of war is only of the primary school standard.”
“The European War has demonstrated to our people, among many other things, that this country is as unprepared on land to defend herself in case of an attack as was Belgium.” (Adj. Gen, Charles H. Cole, of the Mass. National Guard, _Worcester Magazine_.)
“The close of 1915 found the United States Government involved in most serious diplomatic differences with Germany and Austria.... The Navy, which in 1904 stood second in strength, is now third in material strength and fourth or fifth in the strength of personnel.... As showing the farcical weakness of our mobile land forces, it is sufficient to say that we have in the continental United States to-day only 30,000 effective militia, but, in the event of a surprise invasion, it would take thirty days to concentrate these 90,000 regulars and militia against the enemy.” (_Scientific American_, Jan. 1st, 1916.)
“At a moment when by the sheer force of perfect preparedness Germany is winning victories all along the line against the greater part of Europe allied against her, we permit our army to sink close to the point of inefficiency.” (_New York American_, Oct. 31, 1914.)