Arizona republican., 1916-02-23
Battle Barns

We have received outline accompanied by photograph of another preparedness plan. It is not whole plan on the face of it. merely defense plan. It designed by Mr. William Deane Ham of Detroit, Michigan. who, however believes that it will supersede all other scheme for national defense plan involves a series barns" to be con- structed of along all borders and coasts, at such distances from the latter be of range of the heavy guns of warshps.
 MT Ham says he got his from the small German star forts" which have proved effective in the present war, which has demonstrated worthessness of old, formidable looking defenses but which melt away like sand before modern artillery.
 in Mir Ham militarism and utilitarianism mingled in equal parts The basements of these battle barns" to contain the forts' With in the basement also the stalls for cattle and a place for sheep. On the second ground floor are stalls for horses granaries harness and what ever else appertains to wellordered barn. In the center of the building which is of circular shape there is silo extending from the floor of the basement the roof of the second story Above silo pigeon hatchery, above that tank, -urmounted by a watch tower. There is adjoining pump house and nearby round topped low concrete like those of the star forts" Surrounding all a peace ful rural scene, land regularly furrowed by the blow dotted with 1afm houses, secure Tn the vicinity of the battle barn.
 Not only these battle barns bring to naught the schemes of foreign enemies They will end in our favor irrepressibe conflict which we have seen wagng from the earliest times with a structive domestic foe impacabe than the tax gatherer, for says MT. Ham:
 For years there has been a persistent fight in the United States against the rodent family. Sta tistcs gathered by reliable experts bring out the startling facts that there is average these pests in every country dwelling house for each Der of the family therein, and that in frame barns where domestic animals kept, especially where grain is stored, there least five for head of livestock about such building
 Estimates taken from reliable sources also bring out the fact that the annual cost is than each per day for the things they consume and that the damage they cause in the destruction of founda tions, timbers, and otherwise, amounts to fully as much more Therefore if farmer forty head of live stock about his frame barn means that 200 rats and mice therein destroying on an average of two cents each per day, more than sl4OO per year. Think of it! We have than one million wooden barns of this kind. The concrete barn prac- tcaly eliminates this expense, which aggregates an enormous sum.
 Moreover, the battle barn" would afford to the farmer the renter absolute safety for his stock sanitary structure for dairying and freezing sio, which, of course, farmers of Southern Ari- zona could not properly appreciate. Provided with such advantages the of these battle barns" could afford to contribute to sinking fund that in few years would return the government the amount of the battle barn" investments. Would the battle ships which the is proposing to build do that? Hardly thinks Mr. Ham. And why would we then need batteships of any first line defense {? Of what avail would be a foreign foe to land on shores to be confronted every turn by battle barn" with farmers in the spittng bullets at him and with the denizens of the barn neighng
 
 cackling and crooning him in their delight at his discontinue.
 In conclusion MT. Ham says in rising ecstacy:
 May all our warlike actions cease;
 Prepare for with things of peace"
 We through this scheme now Mr. Ham is only pacifis in the guse of a nliarst. He is trying to lure away from our naval and military programs with his delusive battle barns"