Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1917-12-06
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
NHnber One
America Must Fight Hard or Germany
May WIn--Neoesslty for MILL
tary Training.
NSnber One

snow, Billie" said his mother your
Uncle Dan is coming tomorrow 10
spend a week with us on the farm ana
If you want to know about the war;
here's your opportunity. Uncle Dan IL
probably one of the best-informed men
in the country" Billie clapped his
hands and gave such whoop that ne
Weakened the baby, but what could you
expect of a ffteen-year-old boy who is
living interrogation point and wants
to know about war?
Uncle Dan arrived In due time ana
Billie watched for an opportunity. h
came that evening after dinner when
Uncle Dan had lighted cigar ana
taken a seat on the porch.
"rm 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, but
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 amt no
| use to worrit, 1t will soon blow over.
Well, we put the training 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 our coats and go to 1t, Ger
many may yet win, and If she does, she
will take over the great British feet 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 us as he pleased and
that we couldn't help ourselves. He
could make every one pay over part
Of what he earns; that he could make
the farmers pay rent for their own
farms, 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 thenl
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 our Industries and on our farms
when the war came, who could
have been called at once for service, 4
do 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 unprepared
There is only one safe way" said
Uncle Dan, "and that is to adopt per-
manently universal military training.
apply 1t to every young man 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 men called by
the selective draft. AS soon as these
men vacate these stations, they should
be filled by younger men, and this
should be made the permanent policy
of the country"
Bilnes mother Mrs Graham hod
overheard the conversation. She came
out and said: Really, Brother Dan
are You serious as to the dangers Of
our country? If 1t is as bad as that n,
is high time for us to wake IN and do
something about it."'
Exactly" replied Uncle Dan. "It
Is better to wake up now than IN no
rudely awakened later. We NAV 40
well understand, sister, that this is orr
war and we must win 1T or God helm
Everything that we have
or nope to have-our liberties orr
blessings, our opportunities are all in
volved in the great issue before nc
Nothing must stand between rs and
winning this war. 1t is a question
whether the peoples right or the kai-
sers might shall dominate the world
Ii there ever was holy war, this is,
1t. we are lighting for world liberty
We are lighting for the freedom of
humanity. We are fighting for the,
right pr men to govern themselves in
stead of being governed against tbe,rl
will by war-mad overload. periIcn.,
times are ahead of us. We must be-
to make any sacrifice. to ner.,
form any service that may be reouired
Of u.s."
"Oh, Uncle Dan," exclaimed Billie
may l bring my chum, Jimmie Col.
Inns, when we have our next talk3 He
Is bug on this war business ana ,ust,
crazy to see you"
Certainly" said Uncle Dan, with n
hearty laugh. IF we are to have more
talks. shall be glad to have Jimm,a
loin rs"
Billie ciapped his hands and ran tn
The phone and told Jimmie to be over
1t seven O'Clock the next evening.