The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-09-10
Corner Stone Laid.
Continued from page ~

that was most neglected subject
Even the loss of thousands of our
boys in the fever stricken camps dur.
ing the Spanish American war, due to
lack Of preparation, caused only pass
ing lament.
"Withuot suitable arms or ammuni-
ton, with clothing suited to northern
chimes, but entirely unsuited to service
in Cuba during the rainy season, with.
out proper food, medicine or medical
attendance, we sent our own boys to a
pitiful death from disease that might
have been easily forestalled.
"Owosso contributed her sons to this
sacrifice. True, they died not in vain,
for humanity learned another lesson
from Americas benevolent aid to down
trodden Cuba and darkest Philippines
and miserable Porto Rico.
Better yet, the government no longer
ignored the militia. They recalled that
all of our just and successful wars were
fought by militiamen just like these.
Our government realized, If our people
did not, that our island p' sessions and
our growing commerce the world over
made of us world power whether we
W ould or not, and that we must be pre-
pared to assume our responsibility &C.
cordingly. So today our state MALTA,
our present day volunteers, are armed,
uni formed and equipped largely like
the regular armv We have some arms
and ammunition and uniforms and
equipment, in reserve. We are not as
utterly helpless and criminaily unpre-
pared as we were when the Maine was
sunk in Havana harbor.
But we need more Of them. No
danger in that. For Switzerland has
found it very profitable to train all it's
young men in the national defense Far
from becoming an expense or a danger
to the peoples rights, they are the very
soul of the nations health and happi-
ness.
"Pitied indeed is the Swiss who can.
not qualify as an athlete, sound men
tally and physically, and as IA sharp
shooter, trained for the national wei.
fare and defense.
"And 80 to my mind we need pavy
worthy of our national Importance and
for the defense of our national com.
mer CO upon all the waters of the earth.
Seeking no conquest, desiring peace
with all nations, we yet exact service
from every citizen, and every citizen
has right 70 expect that our flag will
follow and protect him wherever he
may be. Only navy tit to command
respect can accomplish these things in
the present state of the worlds ciYiliza-
ton and progress.
but. to my. mind we require and
desire no large standing army. Modern
war has become so largely mechanical
that our volunteers, trained in some
trade or profession would really be
more valuable in the crucial test than
boys who went straight from school
into standing army.
These volunteers from Owosso. Sag
nav, Flint. Bay City, work every day
'or living. They actually contribute
heir mite for the maintenance of ii g
.egulsr army and navy as bread win
,ers and tax payers. In addition they
ire expert electricians, machinists. en-
,ineers. firemen, sailors, builders, in
act every trade is there represented.
Guropes war is largely contest at long
ange, directed by wireless telegraphy,
ield telephones, aeroplanes.
Transportation by motor trucks has
become an exact science. and armies
ire no stronger than their supply de.
,artments. And 80 volunteers from the
luto plants of Flint, Detroit and around
Michigan would be far more valuable
n actual war than regular sc ldiers who
rave learned none of the mechanical
lrts.
$50 from the standpoint Of national
lonor we must rely upon citizen sol
liery serving without fixed pay, just as
,ur National Guard is doing year in
md year out"
In his talk, General Kirk went on
ecord uneouivocally in favor of
,reater preparedness for war. In
pening, he commended the people of
,hiawassee county in their efforts to
ecure the new armory AMI declared
he building would be in a class by
tself among Michigan armories. He
sserted that the state owed Owosso
nd Shiawassee county a vote of
hanks for obtaining such structure
which will "stand as a monument to
he patriotism and fidelity of the peo-
eople Of this county,"
"This armory will be expensive but
he expense should pale into insignif-
ance when we consider that it is for
he nation S defense. / favor peace
nd would to God that there would
ever be another war. None Of us
Ike war, because we know it brings
My misery and disaster to all. But
10 do NOT wapt fpoooa ~ onx, ,,,;oo