Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1917-12-06
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Number One
America Must Fight Hard or Germany
May Win-Neeessity for Mil
tary Training.
Number One

"Scw. Billie" said his mother, "your
Uncle Dan is coming tomorrow TO
spent a week with us on the farm. Il
If you want to know about the war
here's YOU opportunity. Uncle Dan is
probably one Of the best.informed men
in the country" Billie clapped his
and gave such Il whocp that he
Weakened the baby, hut what could you
expect of q fifteen-year-old boy who Is
a living Interrogation point and wants
to know about war?
Uncle Dan arrived in due time ard
Billie watched for an opportunity. II
came that evening after dinner WHEN
Uncle Dan had lighted a cigar aud
taken q seat on the porch.
I'm mighty glad you came, Uncle
Dan. l want to talk to you about the
war. We have just put military train.
ing in our township high school, bur
we had a hard time TO do it. The
Joneses and the Greggs objected. They
said the war wouldn't come over here.
Grandma Jones said: They ain't no
use to worrit, it will soon blow over.
Well, We put the trimming in just the
same. You orter heard Judge Brow
nell. the president of the school board
do the slackers up. He said unless we
take off u coats and go to 1t. Ger
mnny may yet win. and If she does, she
will take over the great British fleet as
a war trophy and compel us to do what
ever she wants to; that she could make
us pay all the cost of the war; the
kaiser could tax Is as he pleased am
that We couldn't help ourselves. FL
could make every n pay Yer a par
Of what he earns: that he could MAKE
the farmers pay rem for their
firms. etc. Now, Uncle. what do you
think of that?"
"Well. my boy" said Uncle Dan,
"all that Judge Brownell says might
easily come true and may unless we go
quickly to the aid of the allies with
large numbers Of men and help them
break the German line. Unless we can
beat the submarines, they may pre-
vent US from getting enough food to
the allies to keep them going. In that
case Germany would win, As matters
stand today, our greatest need Is
trained men. If we had had several
millions of men with military training
In u industries and on our farms
when the war came. who could
have been called at once for service, |
dc not believe the kaiser would have
forced the war upon US. AS 1t was. he
had no respect for us. and now we are
in 1t and must go through with it. But
never again must we be caught so
wholly u%nprepared.
There is only n safe way" said
Uncle Dan, 'and that is to adopt per.
mnnently universal military training,
apply II to every young mar who Is
physically fit, say in his nineteenth or
twentieth year. The training can be
carried forward In the United States
training camps that are now being es.
tablished for training mel called by
the selective draft. AS soon as these
vacate these stations. they should
be filed by younger men, and this
should be made the permanent policy
Of the country"
Billie's mother, Mrs. Graham, had
overheard the conversation She came
out and said:- "Really, Brother Dun,
are you serious as to the dangers Of
our country? II it is as bad as that, il
is high time for us to wake up and do
something about it."
Exactly" replied Uncle Dan. ut
is better to wake up now than to be
rudely awakened later. We may as
well understand, sister, that this Is our
wal and We must win ii OF God help
America. Everything that we have
Or hope to ~have-Our liberties. our
blessings, our opportunities are all in.
volved In the great issue before us.
Nothing must stand between US and
winning this war. 1t is q question
whether the peoples right or the kali
ser's might shall dominate the world.
II there ever was a holy war, this Is
1t. We are fighting for world liberty.
We are fighting for the freedom Of
humanity. We are fighting for the
right Of men to govern themselves in.
stead of being governed against their
will by d wur-mad overload. Perilous
times are ahead OF US. We must be
prepared to make any sacrifice. to per.
form any service that may be required
Of u.s."
"Oh, Uncle DAN" exclaimed Billie,
"may I bring my chuln, Jimmie Col
lins. when wc have our mex talk? He
Is a bug on this vel business and just
crazy to see you"
Certainly" said Cncle Dan. with a
hearty laugh. IF we are to have more
talks. l shAi! BE glad to have Jimmie
join u.s."
Billie capped his hands and ran to
lie phone and told JiinrIie to be over
vt seven O'Clock the next evening.
C.p. R.