Page 222 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

Preparedness for Naval War. 203

you may your ships, without his deteriorating
at a rate to which material presents no parallel.
On the other hand, if he be retained, voluntarily
or otherwise, in the naval service, there ensues
the economical loss — the loss of productive
power— which constitutes the great argument
against large standing armies and enforced
military service, advanced by those to whom the
productive energies of a country outweigh all
other considerations.
It is this difficulty which is felt most by those
responsible for the military readiness of Euro-
pean states, and which therefore has engaged
their most anxious attention. The providing
of material of war is an onerous money ques-
tion ; but it is simple, and has some com-
pensation for the expense in the resulting
employment of labor for its production. It is
quite another matter to have ready the number
of men needed, — to train them, and to keep
them so trained as to be available immediately.
The solution is sought in a tax upon time —

upon the time of the nation, economically lost
to production, and upon the time of the indi-
vidual, lost out of his life. Like other taxes,
the tendency on all sides is to reduce this as