The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1915-02-19
THE MILITARY
ANVIL CHORUS

as many opinions as there are minds
in the west. The voice of the west
tern press is raised in a chorus so dis
cordant and shrill, so many varities of
disaster are prophesied no. matter
what kind of a policy the United
States might pursue that the audience
bewildered and frightened, cannot
possibly arrive at an intelligent con-
clusion. One set of papers, led by
the Los Angeles Times, the Portland
Oregonian and the Hearst organs, is
vociferously demanding the immed-
late construction of a dominant naval
force and the enlargement of the ar
my. And the Times thus reinforces
it's demands for armament augmenta-
ton:
''Those who oppose such an increase
of our army and navy and such en-
largement and organization of our
militia as will guard our country eff
fectively in the event of war with
England and Japan-and war with
one would mean war with the other
are dwelling in FOOLS paradise. All
the assurances of amity and distin-
guished consideration that Sir Edward
Grey may send to Secretary Bryan,
all the utterances concerning kinship
and friendship with America that the
British press may print will amount
to absolutely nothing if those who
control England's policy conclude
that her interests will be advanced by
war with the United States"
The Portland Oregonian combines
an attack upon the administration
with it's oft repeated plea for larger
and more efficient navy, demanding
that congress not only authorize more
dreadnaughts but also provide suffi-
cient number of auxiliary ships, such
as tankers, transports, repair, supply
and hospital ships. The Tacoma Tri-
bune deplores the lack of a fixed, con-
tinuous naval plan of comprehensive
naval development. The lack of such
permanent policy is blamed for the
comparatively poor showing made by
the American navy despite appropria-
tions larger than those of Germany
and Austria combined. The Oakland
Enquirer fires it's heavy editorial ar
tillery at President Wilson because he
opposed an inquiry into the military
preparedness of the country. The
Sacramento Bee, discussing the plan
to protect the Pacific coast by sta
tioning military aerial patrols at in
tervals of twenty-five miles, becomes
sarcastic and remarks:
"But our coast aviators, to be of
much usefulness, mus: learn the art
of staying in the air.
"Seven military aeroplanes started
from San Diego for Los Angeles the
other day, flying over the sea, and on
ly two reached their destination. One
fell into the water and it's pilot was
drowned"
The Arizona Gazette believes that
every boy sixteen years of over should
have military training. The Los
Angeles Call shouts for more ships
and coast Notifications; the Salt Lake
Tribune maintains that coast forts
are practically worthless in prevent
ing an invasion, while the Boise News
advises the government not to spend
much money on the fleet, but rather to
rely upon coast forts and mines.
On the other hand there are num-
erous champions of a peaceable policy
Says the Portland Telegram:
"Now that the preparedness prop
aganda is fairly under way military
experts, naval experts, the powder
works, the gun works, the armor
plate works and all those other works
that have a special interest in the
sale of war material are of one voice
that we should not be chary of ex-
pense, and that a citizen soldiery will
never do. Trailing along with voci-
ferrous approval Of this comes the
jingo.
"Consdering the time and circum-
stances it is a most peculiar promul
cation. There never was time and
occasion within the knowledge of man
when militarism was so discredited
by the good conscience of the world as
it is now. In our own history there
never was less cause to respond to the
false and destructive lure of it than
now."
The Los Angeles Tribune indorses
these sentiments and remarks that
"the best defense America can offer
against attack is to deal justly with
all nations" A host of other papers,
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