The Alaska citizen., 1917-05-07

given the forces to be organized will not con sist so much of the formations heretofore taught, but will consist of a course, on d mini ature scale identical with that which exists on the French battlcficds This is taken to mean that men will be iamiarizcd with the Use oi trcnch-digging implements, how to build and tear down wire fence entaugjc- ments, methods of sapping and mining lnot pIacer), in fact, what the soldiers on the IlH ropcan battlcicIds had 10 learn from actual experience under heavy fire, will be given the American soldier in the training camp.
 Ii our conception oi an armory k CO., rect, it would be most unsuitable for ~usH work as this. But there i, plenty of open country adjacent that would just lit. In the
 last place, under the conscription system, il
 k evident that only a small proportion of our young men will be called, since our popuIa- ton is very small stacked up against the big Outside. Of what value, then, will a course oi intensive drill be to them at present. It would be much more in accord with the spirit Io1 preparedness to put them to doing work that will help the country become scjl-sup- porting
 But in the face of all this we would he ready and willing to lend our support to the scheme if 1t had received the sanction of he Alaska Loyal League and the citizens of the town oi Fairbanks. We think that We are correct in stating that the question oi pur- chasing an armory has not been submitted to either of these We also believe that the sentiment of the town is against the purchase of a building for such purpose, not Iccausc of the money involved but from q cvryj>- tiOr1 taat If ie ahsol1tplz- r11t 11grIr1
 Before anything definite ;s done, ~e think it would be much the better plan to look into the matter fully and sec just low the people feel about it. If it is put up to a man from a patriotic standpoint, naturally many who think otherwise are going to con tribute.
 We realize that when we take this stand we are liable to be charged with stingincss and "knocking.' We are willing to stand both of these charges if we can help the town and give preparedness a boost
 To show that we are not trying to hedge on our pocketbook, we will make another sug- gestion. If it is desired to spend some money in order to show that our patriotism extends to our bank accounts, buy a building suit able for an assembling room and packing house to be used by the farmers organiza- ton in handling their products Buy one and turn it over to this body so that they may haul their food crops to 1t and have them properly graded and packed. Competent men can be put i'll charge of this operation, and the expense of handling greatly reduced to all the farmers. From such place the needs of the local merchant can be supplied, and after this has been done supplies remaining on hand can be disposed of to people in other sections of the interior. Such a place would meet real need and not an imaginary one. We stand ready to do our share in such scheme
 This plan is not a new one It is being adopted all over the States in order to secure proper distribution, eliminate speculation, and keep prices normal, while giving the producer more for his crops than under the old method | of every man handling his own crop. This we consider would at least be a form of pre- paredness. But we cannot see any prepared ness in investing a considerable sum of money in an arnory in which to keep arms that we haven't got and cant get, and teach drill regulations that may soon be obsolete to mel who will be first sent to training camps to be taught what the military experts of the Unit ed States army consider necessary. Ii there is any preparation in this we have never known the meaning of the word.
 "SWAT THE FLY"