Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-10-04
General Wood Says
u. S. Must Prepare

The volunteer method Of raising
an army is not practical in these day.
when we must go against trained
troops, Major General Leonard WOOD
told the audience that filled the Seel
We theatre yesterday afternoon. He
made a strong plea for military train
ing and talked seriously about the
present war
The general motored here from
lamp Funston. driving his car him
self. With him were Colonel c. d.
Rhodes, an aide, a chauffeur and a
stenographer. He was met at c. Z.
Wyandts office by the G. A. R. which
escorted him to the Seelye. The gen
eral inspected Company H which was
drawn up before the theatre "A well
set up company, fine company
said he to Captain Browne.
Company H and the G. A. r. were
seated on the platform, the high
school and high school orchestra in
the front section of the auditorium,
ne board of education occupied box.
{. NJ. Harger presided.
The audience under the leadership
OF Miss Ethel Shay and sang, Faith
Of Our Fathers" and the Rev. c. l..
Eovgard gave the invocation. Rev
T1r. Blayney made a short address
urging appreciation of the necessity
of paying the cost of war If we are to
have peace.
General Wood is forceful talker,
no oratorical flourishes. but sincere
words driving home big message
ehich he evidently feels keenly. He
SAID:
This Great War
I'VE are at war. Far away in the
interior of our country it is rather
hard to realize. We have broken theI
peace in order that we might keep
the faith, the faith of the founders of
mis- nation.
1--WE had approached dangerously
near, in our delay in entering into
the war, to that condition which was
so well described in these words, IL
Is almost perdition to be safe when
in truth we ought to die We love
peace, we hate war, and if you knew
much about soldiers you would know
that they have as much dislike for
war as you have. They know a great
deal about it because they have to
study It, It is something they may
have to take part in at any time We
officers of the army and navy are
simply your paid public servants. 1t
rs our business to be ready with the
police forces of the nation in time OF
peace to meet any emergency which
may arise, and in time of war, or
threatened war, to do your training
far you, to train your citizen sol
3ieis
THE war is not going to be won
ny striking Germany through the air.
II is going to be won by men, such
as the men representing the Grand
Army, and men such as the young
men back of them are today. Young
men of fighting age, trained and dis
ciplined, well organized and thoroly
armed, and when say thoroly armed,
/ mean they must have all the appli-
ances of modern war. 1t is a tre-
mendous conflict We are gong into
that conflict / think we are going
to win; am quite confident we will,
hut we are going to pay the price of
not having done in times of peace the
things we should have done.
Cannot Buy Time. s
zone thing the American people
ought to learn. 1t is that no amount
Of money can buy time These gen
tlemen who went through the Civil
war could have told you what ought
TO have been done at any time curing
the past so years What you have
done is illustrated by this fine bunch
# young representatives Of your ma I
tIonal guard standing here sound in
body. erect in carriage, but without
arms and without any kind of equip '
nent That impersonates America 2
today. fine, brave, willing. but un
and they are unprepared be- a
"a lse we have failed to take the prop t
sr interest in their preparation. and
ve are going to pay the price now in I
me heaps of unnecessary dead.
I'm going to talk very plainly to q
sou today. There have been too many I
views expressed of which you are all T