Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-22

v
European struggle"
And this: 1.-THE last year has proved
that no human institution, no govern
ment, no region on the earth's SURFACE
is safe unless it can defend Itself,
Treaties, laws, customs, and theories
have been swept away and mankind IS
defending his belly with his knife. NO
knife, no life-that is the red signal
flying throughout the world"
Now let us grasp certain facts.
Because we are big, it does not fol-
low that we are strong. The RABBIT
stands no chance with the little weasel;
the hugh whale has no show with the
swift sharp toothed KILLER; the giant
grass eating animals of prehistoric
times were helpless before the sabre
toothed tiger: big soft fat three
hundred FOUNDER can be pummelled
GREATNESS and silly, by a wiry. trained
opponent Of less than half his weight.
This country with it's utmost re-
sources, its most desperate courage,
intensest energy and undying patriot
ism, will be as helpless against any one
of the hugh fighting machines abroad
which are trained by continuous COM
bat to the highest limit of efficiency,
precision and endurance as child in
the hands of a professional wrestler.
1snd those fighting machines abroad
will not be exhausted or destroyed at
the end of the war. On the contrary
they will be in the pink Of condition,
and efficiency.
Let us get away from the fool idea
that an American can lick all creation
and recognize the truth that we have
never yet had a real war with a first
class power. In the war Of 1912, al
though we had nearly ten times as
many men under arms at one time or
another as those opposed to US. we
achieved only one success on land and
that was after the war had closed-and
we had the humiliation of seeing the
Capital burned by small invading
force.
Let us drop the still more fool idea
counts for anything.
What does the trained pugilist care
how many country youngsters he has
against him?
What does the wolf care how many
sheep there are or the hawk how many
chickens?
Let us face the situation squarely,
and understand clearly that in the
event of attack in our present condi-
ton by first class power, there will
be just two alternatives, either yield
Supinely our national existence, sur
render the glorious prestige and ideals
OF bigness and freedom and the rest
for which the Stars and Stripes stand,
and which we have f1auDted in the face
of the world for years. or go forth our
selves and send our sons and brothers
to deliberate and unavailing self muir
der, and let the survivors give up their
possessions to the murderers.
Up to date warfare as now practiced
by some, is simply a matter of beating
up the possesSor Of wealth and then
compelling him to give up his wealth to
pay for the trouble. ... ...
Is it any wonder that one of our Ma
tional Senators says 'if war is hell
preparedness is religion" H.,
You ask what shall we do? The
answer is get busy. begin to get ready,
don't waste time in hoping or waiting
for someone else to do something, act.
The bulk of the preparation, particu-
larly as regards material must of
course rest with the Government and
will take time. That it will inevitably
be done properly, I have no doubt.
But there is also work that each
man can do to supplement the work of
the Government.
We men of Maine in every ward, and
town and village through the state can
be taking count of stock and familiar
lzlns ourselves with the matter. How
many of us are there in each place:
would we make a company, a battalion
or a platoon? Are any Of us fit for
officers? What do we know about
military elements? Where would we
assemble when we We're called upon
Let us read up on the matter, ETC., ETC..
and then when the War Department
mas perfected the scheme of civilian
training, on which it is now engaged.
we VIII be ready next spring and sum-
mer for the training camp and practi-
cal instruction.
Why this our State of Maine. with
the same relative percentage of effic-
lency as switzerland with her citizen
soldlery system. would concentrate 75.-
O0O to $4,000 trained men against the
threatened attack in 4s hours. Think
OF 1t. two Army Divisions.
Let me tell you something about the
Swiss system.
AT the age of eight every Swiss
school boy begins his course of physi-
cal training. 1t gradually takes I'm
more OF his time until he completes his
18th year
THE whole course of physical in.
struction, even during the years of
lmmaturity. is under the supervision of
the Federal War Department. There
Is out one primer for the physical
training in the schools and that is is
sued and edited by the War Depart-
ment. The teacher Is the primary mil
itary instructor Of every Swiss boy.
Hand in hand with the physical
training Of the Swiss boy at school goes
that OF the cadet corps, where the lad
undergoes all of the exercises of the
school for the soldier to that of the
school of battalion, and where he re-
celves thorough and systematic
course In rifle practice and firing the
DRY. Rifle practice for the youngsters
IS accorded in absolute military fash
ion. including range and field exercises.
preparatory courses for boys be-
tween the ages of sixteen and twenty
form another division of the pre-re-
cruitiNg work Ithaca nro,,.a%a.,