"WHAT PRICE GLORY?"

A short month ago the United States celebrated a National Defense Day with great show of mock-mobilization, much waving of flags, and a flood of rhetorical exhoration by generals and others who should have known better. This week, in Berlin-military leaders of the two great warrior-countries of Europe, whose quarrels have been the great obstacle to peace for three hundred years, are leading a world peace congress in the denunciation of war. General Verraux of France and General Shoenaich of Germany attack their own trade with true military straightforwardness.

While Secretary Wilbur of the Navy invokes a highly intelligent posse of sheriffs to enforce his censorship of a realistic play concerning the Marines in the trenches, on the ground that it disparages the romance of military life and may discourage enlistment. General Shoenaich, German commander on the Rumanian front, calls fools and cowards the officers of the old regime who still cling to the old militaristic ideas. While the entire strategic staff of the United States Army goes on speaking tours to persuade the voters to enlarge the regular army and create a large citizen army. General Verraux, commander of the sixth French corps, urges a general strike against war, even a strike of generals.

America, long considered the most defenceless great nation in the world, has just swallowed two bitter doses of jingoism without blinking. European countries, where a vigorous military class has long been the tradition, finds its war-like ideals trampled upon by their former defenders. Perhaps this reversed balance of trade in military illusions may mean a reversal of military strength, as Bertrand Russell insists, the United States may become the only great military nation in the world. The unsophisticated ear of American public opinion is still fascinated by the blare of warlike demonstration, and the jingo is still the herald of patriotism.