the use of paying out good money for scientific training--for modern materials--for being ready at all? War couldn’t be. Not so good. For war suddenly _was_. Right in the midst of this dangerous propaganda. Someone struck a match at Sarajevo and set all Europe on fire. Despite those priceless brains that had so lately invented no war, Russia, England, France, Belgium, Austria and Germany were flaming. What a sight! Americans rushed for front seats and bought concessions. Wasn’t it an awful fire! What a pity! As for us--poof! We couldn’t get into it. It was Europe’s affair. We sensed no tidal wave of emotions. We didn’t even send experts over there to see how modern war was conducted. Not so good, for the rumblings grew plainer and plainer. In 1915, Colonel House, the President’s confidential adviser, wrote to Woodrow Wilson: “If war comes with Germany, it will be because of our unpreparedness and her belief that we are more or less impotent to do her harm.” He was on the ground and saw. But did we take his word and see? Our mobile army _then_ was smaller than our trained force before the Spanish-American War. Our general staff was reduced and our equipment laughable. No so good. We entered 1916 still unconcernedly watching the drama in Europe, while U-boats were sinking our shipping, Germany was sticking out her tongue at us and we were getting hotter and hotter. Were we doing anything for our safety? No, no, that would be a violent gesture. Despite our watchful waiting and utter helplessness, General Leonard Wood established the business men’s training camp. And Congress, by some miracle, put over our first real National Defense Act--a comprehensive thing built on sound lines. Not so bad. But the legislation wouldn’t be fulfilled for five years--and here we were ten months before we got into the war. Even if the act had been immediately and wholly effective, we wouldn’t have had time to get the men and train them. Not so good.