Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-23
slooEsr U. 8. GUN USELESS.

BIGGEST U. 3. GUN USELESS.
The United States possesses one six.
teen inch gun. It was finished by its
builders in 1903 and tested at the
Sandy Hook proving grounds. Then it
was permitted to lie on the beach for
ten years. Last year it was polished
up and ordered sent to Panama to
serve as one of the main defenses to
the great canal which the United
States has built there, somewhat
against the wishes Of several jealous
nations. -
It Is stated that this great gun has
no carriage on which 1t can be mount
ed. Also that there Is not in existence
a single shell for the great gun to fire
even II the gun were mounted.
Congress has ordered thirty-fve
shells made for it and it is estimated
they will be done in year or so.
What do you know about that!
The one big gun owned by the Unit
ed States In the past thirteen years, is
as useless for purposes of defense as a
ramrod, because 1t Ia unmounted and
without shells!
The history Of this sixteen inch gun
furnishes an excellent illustration of
the ineficiency Of the government-not
alone Of the present democratic admin.
istration, but Of it's republican prede-
cessors as well. The present admins
tration, in our opinion, is about the
last word in incompetency, but when
it comes to discussing national defense
and army management, it is an in
instance of the pot calling the kettle
black, for the republicans to take them
to task.
That big sixteen inch gun was built
while Roosevelt was president. Under
his administration 1t was thrown ON
the beach. The Panama canal was be-
ing built at that time and while Roose-
Welt was putting it over he neglected
to make any real provisions for its pro-
lection. President Taft's administra-
ton failed to do any better. The re-
publicans spent plenty of money =
protective tariff gave them plenty to
spend-but where they showed any ef-
ficiency in building up national de-
lenses, Is mystery still unsolved.
The woeful state Of unpreparedness
of the country has, on account of the
great European war, become evident
since the democratic administration
came into power, but the republicans
have NO occasion to hold up their
hands in holy horror. The republicans
aided in building up the useless system
which we thought capable, until year
ago, to protect this country in case OF
war. The case of the sixteen inch gun
is merely an instance of the inefi-
cheney that has ruled in every depart
ment Of the army and navy for many
years past.
What our nation has to do now, is to
forget this bunk about arbitration and
dependence upon peace treaties. Waen
war comes, law ends, ard the m,c w-,o
would protect himself and his loved
ones, must be nielty enough to Go s.
himself-the fighters know 70 law.
The United States must forget par
tisanrhir. The first aim of congress
should be to make this country safe
from any possible danger and 1t should
not deceive itself into thinking that no
danger exists.
The trouble in Mexico is a pink tea
compared to what would result if some
first class power decided to make war
,ubon the United States. And strang-
er things than this latter have hap
pened
We must put some efficiency in our
preparedness.
81 e.