Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-03
Criticism, and Criticisms.

A critic Of the Journal writes blunt
ly his disapproval Of our criticisms Of
the Administrators demonstration Of
"preparedness'-and our friend forgot
to sign his name to his criticism. He
lit looked like a mans handwritingl
says the other papers Of the country
are not saying such things, but he
perhaps forgot that our exchange list
is probably larger than his list of sub
scriptions. AS a matter OF fact, the
things we have said are moderate in
deed when compared with what some
of the independent" papers are say
ing. Let our anonymous friend read
the following from the New York Her
aid:
Where do we stand as to prepared
ness? About where we stood seventy
years ago, when raw and untamed VOL
unteers had to be called upon for the
war with Mexico.
Not even the obvious things appear
to have been attended to by the War
bepdi llIleIll II lldu DtcH whisper Sti
throughout the country long before the
st. Louis convention that something
was going to happen in Mexico" but
TO hint was given to the various Ma
tional Guard organizations to prepare
the mobilization camps for quick oc-
cupation. No steps were taken to pro-
vide arms and Z. equipment. Orders
we're not placed for supplies. Rel
pc held Mr.. Baker in its highest fol1
while he was attending to political
matters.
1t is still time to overcome bfunder-
ing and inef1ciency. Appeals should
go to Washington from every quarter
to change tactics and approach this
question as if it were a serious one.
Only by doing that can the Admins
tration expect to hold the splendid
support which has been offered with
out regard to party. The country is
standing by the President" but it ex-
poets his officials to stand by it. They
have a task of great magnitude before
them.
If our friend honestly thinks We
should not criticize the inefflciency OF
the administration, how does he regard
the following from the Milwaukee
Sentinel:
Waiting. but not Watching That S
what the Administrations a Washing
ton has been at the last three years
NoW hen The nation seems 10 be
Oh the brink Of a serious var, it is
short of aaroplanes. The few it has
are in hospital for repairs, and at their
best never were in condition for war
service, fact which may account for
the large number of officers and men
who in the last few years have lost
their lives while operating them.
Hundreds of aeroplanes OF the very
best type should have been in readi-
ness for an emergency. Instead there
are none.
During the last three years thou
sands of uptodate machine guns
should have been made for this coun-
try's use in event OF war. instead.
there is small supply. mos, OF them
Of an antiquated pattern a>G many in
arsenals for repair
If first class machine guns IN per-
feet order, handled by men VINO had
/ Il =,
had been ready for use at Columbus
last March, not many of Villa one
thousand bandits would have escaped
| There were only two machine guns at
Columbus. both Of ancient pattern, ana
one so out of order that it did not fire
a shot.
That is more evidence Of much wait
ing with a blind mans style Of watch
ing. What was the Administration
thinking about all those three years?
But for the European war. this coun-
| try now would not only be without
ammunition enough to fight one battle,
but there would have been a scant sup
ply Of factories for turning 1t out.
"Watchful' nothing, Asleep at the
switch Of preparedness-that is the
fact.