Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-05-09

| true stories OF valiant deeds, written
briefly and without boaSung, that
equal any recital of stern duty well
done in the records Of either of the
great armed services OF the country.
Harder Than in Spanish War.
The work which the revenue cutters
are doing today is much harder than
that which they did so valiantly and
effectively when this country was at
war with Spain. In that conflict
/ few of the cutters we're used TO guard
mine fields laid "a the approaches to
our harbors, bit most Of them were
used for patrol and in part blockade
| service of the coast of Cuba. Today
these cutters, which in 1896 because
of their service were compelled to hug
/ the shore. are now in the open sea
watching for submarines, ready to give
| them battle and at the same time to
notify by the air routes the destroyers
and the battleshipS of the approach Of
the enemy.
These cutters of ours that are pa
| trolling the seas are taking chances.
| 1t has been asked whether or not they
will be effective against enemy sub
marines because the cutters, some of
which are as ancient as they are hon
/ orable, are not as fast as the Flaw Of
logging it, on the seas demands in this
modern day.
There seems 10 be little fear in
Washington that these vessels will not
do their duty up to the handle, and lit
tie greater fear that one of them viii
not be able 10 cope with a submarine
if it appears above the surface to give
battle One of our coast guard yes
sells can stand good many shells
without going TO the bottom unless, of
course, one of the projectiles shall hit
vital place below the water line.
When it is travelling ON the surface
submarine uses its guns and not its
torpedo tubes. which are for service
under water. While the coast guard
vessel can stand up after being wound
ed, such is not the case with the sub
marine, for the U-boat is a frail crea-
ture and one small projectile we'll
placed will do for it. Moreover. slow
as the cutters are they can make as
good time as the average submarine
can make when travelling on the sur
face. The speed of a submarine I'M
der the water is four or five knots less
than when travelling above it.
Count on Much From Alaska.
Alaska. as the Ordinary geo
graphically located" resident of the
United States looks at it, is long way
OFF, but out of Alaska the war depart
ment expects much to come In the way
of high-class men and material for the
great army which is to be raised for
service in the present war.
Alaska is a hardy country. The
men who live there, or who have seen
service there, are men who have met
life in both its harsh and In its APP
pealing features. Alaska, however is
recognized as being rugged rather than
harsh and rugged characteristics are
soldier-making charae, eristics.
The government has been at work in
Alaska for great many years. II has
been represented there by soldiers and
civilians. den of the service and of
civil life together have built roads and
trails through the great territory in
order to mike the means of communi-
cation easy through a country the face
of which at one time seemed to be
set forbiddingly against access and
transportation endeavor.
For twenty years in Alaska an army
officer has been stationed and for the
greater part of that time he has been
at the head of the board of road COM
missioners engaged In the construc-
ton of wagon roads, bridges. trails
and military and post roads under the
direction of the secretary Of war.
Col. Wilds +. Richardson, U. s. A,
has been president of this board Of
commissioners for a long time. Now
with war upon US il seems certain that
the field of operations of Colonel Rich
ardson will be changed from the great
territory of the United States 10 the
field of military operations. Nearly
all the colonies of the United States
service today before long viii be wear
ing the stars of a brigader or major
general.