Evening star., 1915-12-26

town. any fort to pieces Euficient artil-
lery can stop the best infantry in the
world. OF all nations, we should be strong
in artillery. We have the money to buy
guns. To US flesh and blood are precious:
but We still depend on them.
Power Of Gunhre Illustrated.
The first glimpse had Of the battle Of
the Marne illustrated the power Of gun
fire, the last action saw at the British
front brought the same lesson home. New
er did watch artillery action. never was
under shell fire. without thinking just
this: even If we can't get men to enlist
in the regular army, We may have guns.
We who built the Panama canal and have
won the worlds admiration for our indus
trial organization at least can be ready
with guns, in case Of crisis. il not with
infantry"
The experience Of the British army in
this war is lesson enough. It hardly
seems possible that the England OF the
British navy and the England that sent
its little army to that heroic retreat from
Flanders is one and the same country:
The fact that it is proves that successrui
warfare these days Is not due to innate
heroism of the people or their willingness
to give up life and money. but to having
the machinery Of war ready.
The British navy wanted nothing IN
the way Of modern preparation. 1t led
in all mechanical processes. 1t had the
latest guns, the latest designs OF ships
Not a single bit of equipment, or q
single tool for war was lacking. It's
war, but the British army was without
adequate artillery or aeroplanes or
guns. The British navy
was an up-to-the-minute organization.
because the British people were ready
to pay the cost and insisted on full
t,Vn M I'd n
The people didn't take the same in
terest in the army. They thought the
army would get on somehow. and they
let its demands wait. Wasn't Tommy
Wasn't he British? He would take care
of himself against any enemy. For
the British public. in much the same
way as ours. visualized an army as SOL
diers. carrying rifles and nothing else.
At Mons. and again on the Aisne. and
later In the frst battle of Ypres, the
Germans were firing anywhere from
three to ten shells to one against the
British. who had to sit in their
trenches and take 1t. II they charged
they met the bullet sprays of machine
guns. while they lacked machine guns
to- meet the German charges. Again
and yet again-artillery- and machine
guns are things you buy, things you
build. the product Of factories. not of
the cradle and Of the affection of home,
too. and all the allies. because they
lacked guns. paid the price Of holding
by the death of brothers and sons
against the merciless blasts of shells.
What Does It Amount TOP
Is that what you want us to do? Ap-
parently. It is the American plan in
case OF war. presumably, because we
think we are Just. as brave as anybody
else. And being as brave. why not
prove It by trying to stop shells with
our cuticle as armor? At Waterloo and
Gettysburg the losses were Is to 80
per cent. The old rule of war was that
with the loss of 10 or Is per cent you
prepared for retreat. while the best
troops on earth were not expected to
hold with the loss of 25 per cent. The
British batta1ions and the French bat
talions held in this war after the loss
OF So. so and even 10 pep cent. 1t was
glorious. no doubt. Statues will be
raised to those heroes Poets will sing
their praises.
But what was the good Of Il? Why
try to stop q buzz-saw with your hands
instead of chucking a piece Of dyna-
mite into the machinery? Dynamite
10 much cheaper than flesh.
England's agreement was to put in
10000 men on the continent France
and Russia were to do the rest Of the
land nEhttng. while England held the
sea. The most important reason that
France and Russia needed further as
ststance was lack of artillery and ma
chine guns. This is universally recog-
nized IN Europe. but apparently not In
the United States. judging by the pres
ent military program which has been
submitted to Congress- -
When England found that France and
Russia could not do It alone. she had
with 100000. That again illustrates
that you never know what necessity
war may develop. But ii you are un-
prepared you may be. pretty sure your
In six months England made very
good infantry, but it was infantry
naked to the snemy's artillery flre.
For those 1000. 900 men England ought to
have had no less than $4,000 guns.
Fifteen thousand OF different calibers!
AS many people in the United States
have never seen gun (unless they
may have seen old cannon In public
war;. they hardly realize what this
means. and many. Of US do not even
know that gun" is the common army
word word fer ssI cannon; ,o. a gun is a TUBE Of
tempered breech block. which must be
most accurately fashioned and tested.
There may be a lot Of people in. the
so rich and 50 ingenious and adaptable
that in case Of war the President Of
the United States would Fave only to
call up number Of our manufacturing
plants, knitting mills. biscuit factories.
shoe factories. az well as steel mills,
.Now We Americans are going to
prove that this preparedness is all very
well for those backward stick in the
mud. EUROPEANS, but when 1t comes to
the United States!, Well. we want 5000
guns delivered in month. Yes send
them along fast freight and mark them
'Perishab1e. - RI. u
England in Same Position.
Yet there was England. the greatest
trading nation and a great manufac-
turing ratinu with all har reaaurcaa