The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-12-30
HORN In OR HORN oUT2

a fighting man and fought bravery;
some women as well-they were like
the men with whom Andrew Jackson
won the battle Of New Orleans. Now
il the Serbians were prepared" we
are not utterly unfit and could drive
out an army of a million men--but
Serbia's preparedness did not save
her. Austria was prepared and lost
Silesia-France was prepared and
lost Sedan; Belgium was prepared
and Serbia was prepared-what of
it.? Did preparedness keep the peace
for them Times Union.
The Tines-U Union has at least two
writers on its editorial page, and they
don't always compare notes, as viii be
seen by the following remark, which
appeared on that same editorial page
few days ago, and which does not
altogether harmonic with the above
paragraph:
"a lot of Serbian and Bulgarian re-
cruits fought well without eighteen
months of military education"
So it seems that instead Of horning
into the Star with a dilemma, the
Times Union had better horn out of
the one it has created for itself.
In regard, however, to the dilemma
the Times Union presents, the Star
does not see why it should take either
horn. As the Times Union says, the
Serbians are nation Of fighting men
that is, they are something like the
Americans were an hundred years
ago, when almost every man had a
gun and knew how to use it, and out
in the forests or mountains, or even
in the fields, behind boulder or a
tree, was as good a fighting man as
the regular soldier. If we were the
same sort of people today-if we
were armed and trained as the Ser
bians are-no combination of nations
would dare to attack us. But we are
not that sort Of people, and none
should know it better than the Times
Union. There were undoubtedly more
men in little Serbia than in immense
America who knew how to handle a
rife or machine gun, and discharge
the duties of a soldier. 1t is safe to
say that in all our country there are
not 100000 mn who know how to
shoot an army rifle. There are good
number who are skillful with sport
ing rifles, but sporting guns today
are as inferior to army guns, as the
musket Of century ago was inferior
to the cannon. Even with sporting
guns, however, the vast majority of
our people are unskilled. 1t is, in
fact, probable that a majority of
American men are unskilled with any
kind of a firearm, and it is certain
that not more than half million
have anything like any military train
ing whatever.
In all it's comparisons on this sub
ject, it may be observed that the
Times-Union is careful to go only so
far ais viii suit it's own ends. Serbia
was prepared, of course, but not so
well prepared as its powerful oppon-
ents. Serbia's preparedness enabled
it to hold the Teutons in check for
over a year and inf1ict on them many
disastrous defeats-why should the
Times-Union or anyone else expect
such little nation to hold out for
ever against three, the least Of which
was stronger and better prepared
than it was? If the United States
could put up as good fight in pro-
portion ais Serbia. all the rest of the
world combined couldn't march an
army across its borders.
The Times Union goes on and says,
Austria was prepared and lost
SiIesia," but it omits to say that
when Austria lost Silesia she was ex-
hausted by long war with France,
and that Prussia, under Frederick
the Great, was the best prepared ma
ton in Europe.
The. Times-U Union also says, France
was prepared, and lost Sedan" Now,
unless we have read history upside
down, France was not prepared, but
thought she was, when she lost
Sedan, and unless we greatly mistake
we have seen the same opinion ex-
pressed on the Times Unions edi-
torial page.
Belgium" says the Times Union,
''was prepared, and Serbia was pre-
pared-what of it
Now, the Times-U Union knows that
Belgium had not tenth of the
strength, and probably not tenth of
the preparedness in proportion that
Germany had-but, what Of it."
Well, this of it. Belgium blocked
the German advance for a few days,
and gave the French and British that
much more time to prepare for the
battle of the Marine. The battle of
the Marine saved France. And that's
good deal of @what Of it.
eDid preparedness keep the peace
for tEIem ~ asks the Times-U Union.
IT ss The concengus of opinion that
il Germany had known how well pre-
pared they were, and how they would
frht. there never would have been
any lar. Their naneied bodies have
bfckan So many eoes IN the great