Cuba Strengthens Her Navy

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

Cuba Strengthens Her Navy

THERE are those in Cuba who fear that that country is drifting into militarism, as shown by an extract from the Cuba News (Havana) of October 16, sent us by a correspondent:—

Cuba is to ask for bids for five torpedo boat destroyers. Just whose torpedo boats she would destroy, and just how far they would go destroying against a country which has torpedo boats, might be a pertinent question. Just think how far the five million dollars would go toward building good roads and good schoolhouses in Cuba. Think of the cost of the maintenance of the ships and their crews, and what it would do in maintaining the roads of the island, the streets of the cities, the schools of the country. Many a load of Cuban produce will be laboriously pulled over rough and muddy roads in Cuba to pay for these toys of the military spirit. Many a Cuban child will grow up in ignorance, to keep up these unnecessary appendages. Cuba has one of the greatest navies in the world to protect her in case of attack from a foreign power. The people of Cuba have no desire for war of any kind, naval or military. The country should not be permitted to drift into militarism. “This idea of ‘preparedness’ is like “toting” a pistol. If a person wants to get into a shooting scrape or trouble of any kind, let him carry a gun. No man ever got into a shooting scrape unless he had a gun. No nation would go to war had it not prepared for war.