A strong advocate for increased military preparedness was former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who outlined his proposals in a series of newspaper articles that was published by the Wheeler Syndicate from September 1914 to December 1914. These articles were included in a book that was published in January 1915—America and the World War.
Roosevelt's arguments were often first read in newspapers that were filled with other news of the destructive war in Europe. On Sunday, September 27, 1914, the front page of The Gazette Times in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania included Roosevelt's first article, which became Chapter 1 of America and the World War ("The Duty of Self-Defense and of Good Conduct of Others").
That front page also included these headlines:
America and the World War is basically an argument for a change in U.S. foreign policy and an increased investment in the U.S. military. Roosevelt reinforced his main points with much repetition, which was probably less noticeable in weekly articles than in a book.
- Germans Pierce Chain of Verdun Forts: Cross Meuse and Take Outer Works of Fort St. Mihiel
- Germans Place Big Siege Guns Near Antwerp: Reinforced by Austrians, They Prepare for Fierce Assault on Belgian City
- Krupp Plant Going Night and Day to Supply Field Army
- Many British Officers Slain: Latest List Gives 102 Casualties Among Higher Ranks
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| Theodore Roosevelt in 1918 |
Roosevelt, who was famous for the phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick," wrote that military preparedness made a significant difference when the European war broke out. It helped Belgium resist Germany strongly enough to slow the German army's march towards France. England's naval preparedness helped it control the bodies of water around that island country.
By contrast, the strength of the U.S. navy had declined in the last two years under U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan, and Secretary of Navy Josephus Daniels. According to Roosevelt, these politicians were part of a group of "professional pacificists" and "ultrapacificists" who did not want to work to seek a "moral" and "righteous" path to peace.
In this world it is as true of nations as of individuals that the things best worth having are rarely to obtained in cheap fashion. There is nothing easier than to meet in congresses and conventions and pass resolutions in favor of virtue. There is also nothing more futile unless those passing the resolutions are willing to make them good by labor and endurance and active courage and denial.Roosevelt also called for mandatory military service for young men, similar to what was required in some of the countries involved in the war. He tried to counter charges that his preparedness proposal was the same kind of "militarism" that many observers felt was a cause of the war. He cited Switzerland as a good example of where military training also strengthened the general society.
Unquestionably certain nations have at times prepared for war with a view to foreign conquest. But the rule has been that unpreparedness for war does not have any real effect in securing peace, although it is always apt to make war disastrous, and that preparedness for war generally goes hand in hand with an increased caution in going to war.Other targets of Roosevelt's criticism were treaties that had been signed to protect the neutrality of countries like Belgium and Luxembourg, but didn't prevent them from being invaded at the beginning of the war. Roosevelt strongly argued that treaties were worthless unless they were backed by force and the willingness to use that force. He praised England for entering the war in response to Germany's violation of Belgium's neutrality.
Like other writers, Roosevelt called for a "world league" that was similar to the later League of Nations, United Nations, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This world league would work towards realistic treaties that could be enforced with military action. A chapter titled "An International Posse Comitatus" argued for an international military force that played the same role as the people in the American West who tried to keep the peace before there was formal and organized law enforcement.
America and the World War also shows the increased involvement of the U.S. in world affairs. Much of this involvement occurred during Roosevelt's time as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1897-1898), U.S. Vice President (1901) and U.S. President (1901-1909). These involvements included activities in the Panama Canal, Cuba, and the Philippines.
Roosevelt stated what he felt should be the defense priorities of the U.S.—the east and west coasts, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Panama Canal. He also talked about how the Monroe Doctrine could be currently applied, based on the military strengths of Latin America.
His argument for military preparedness is part of a general "territorial integrity" argument that touched on a very familiar subject to 21st century readers—immigration.
Students, statesmen, publicists, scientific men, all travelers, whether for business or pleasure, and all men engaged in international business, whether Japanese or American, should have absolute right of entry in one another's countries and should be treated with the highest consideration while therein, but no settlement in mass should be permitted of the people of either country in the other country.Roosevelt tried to be objective about the different European countries who were fighting, including examples of how other countries besides Germany violated pledges of neutrality. He seemed to greatly admire many aspects of German culture.
America and the World War was met by mixed reviews.
Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) (February 20, 1915):
It is undoubtedly the sneers at the peace man which most threaten Roosevelt's excellent case for a world peace to be secured, as we have secured domestic peace, by armed assertion of justice. For if this ideal of a world league is ever to be achieved, it must be achieved by the sentiment of all the great nations that peace and not war is the handmaid of civilization. Every effort of every pacifist tends toward that end.New York Tribune (New York, New York) (January 16, 1915):
Among all the books on the world war which have been issuing from the presses in an unending stream since it began, this is the one that concerns us Americans most vitally. That adequate preparation for war is the best peace insurance a nation can secure in this as yet very imperfect world of ours is a truth so self-evident that only a small minority of idealists persist in denying it.In the 1964 book The American Heritage History of World War I (American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc.), Roosevelt was described as "the staunchest advocate of direct intervention" by the U.S. when World War I broke out in 1914.
When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, Roosevelt tried to enlist and even trained other soldiers for battle. Woodrow Wilson rejected Roosevelt's bid for service, but Roosevelt's four sons eventually served.
America and the World War was published in January 1915, according to the copyright page. The foreword by Roosevelt is dated January 1, 1915. A review of the book appeared in the New York Tribune on January 16, 1915. Front page headlines from that day's Tribune included:
- VAN OF CZAR'S ARMY NEARING EAST PRUSSIA / Full Strength of New Russian Force Estimated at Million Men. / GERMANS DRIVEN FROM RIVER SKRWA / Grand Duke's Troops Menace Enemy at Mlawa and Before Warsaw. / KAISER'S MEN SENT TO AID OF AUSTRIA / Many Assemble in South—Petrograd Staff Expects New Attack on Polish Capital
- BRITISH READY TO USE FORCE ON CARRANZA / Demands Lifting of Embargo on Oil Production at Tampico. / WILL ACT IF U.S. NOTE IS IGNORED / Navy's Need of Fuel from the Mexican Fields is Imperative.
- WAR DRIVES MAD A GERMAN PRINCE / Nephew of Kaiser Becomes Demented After Fight Between Emden and Sydney.
Online versions:
Newspaper information from Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/)
Roosevelt photograph from Baker Art Gallery [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
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