Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-01
SEND ARMY
TO FRANCE
7. R. URGES

Chicago, April 2s.-Col. Theodore
ton here today, delivered his first
war speech at noon at a luncheon
given by the Chicago branch Of the
National Security league. Tonight he
will deliver his principal address at
the stock yards amphitheater, which
seats $4,000 persons.
In his luncheon address Colonel
Roosevelt urged that the use Of grain
for the manufacture Of alcoholic
drinks be prohibited for tho period Of
the war. He urged obligatory milf
tary training, the expansion and Inn
provement OF the navy, and asserted
that an expeditionary force should be
sent to France at once. Present con-
scription plans. he said. would deny
service to many men who wished to
volunteer.
WOULD AVOID FOOD SHORTAGE.
Colonel Roosevelt said tn part: Tho
world is facing a shortage Of food.
Soon we shall face q shortage Of food.
Therefore let us use an the grain We
have for food not for into11cants.
Let the government help the farmer
by mobifizing labor If necessary. and
tell our young men that it is q case OF
farm and arm.
During the last two years and
half Of peace We have been foolish
enough not to prepare for war; now
that We are at war, let us avoid the
further folly of failure to prepare for
the great tasks Of peace, the tasks
with which We WIN have to deal now
while We are at war, and which viii;
be Of Overwhelming importance as
soon rs the war is over.
I'VE need thorough going military
preparedness. It must accompany end
represent and be based on thorough
going economic preparedness. Both
alike must be based on spiritual pre-
parefness, the making ready Of the
national soul Then with knowledge
and courage and sanity, with cool
headed refusal to be misled by the op-
timists and stout hearted refusal to be
terrified by the pessimtst; with reso.
lutte fnsistence upon our own rights
and equally firm determination to see
and respect the rights Of others, we,
way steadily toward the great goal
seen in prophetic vision by the Wash
ingtons and Lnco1ns Of the past.
KNOWS NO POLITICS.
Il need hardly say l speak as an
American and nothing else. know no
politics no division Of creed, national
origin or section, when the nation Is
at war with foreign foe"
las ret our people are not walked
up to the vital Significance It this
war. This is because at the moment
we are safe behind the British feet.
do not believe that Germany VIII be
able to make her submarine warfare
success. But this always is a possfbal.
ity and IL she did succeed, it weuld
mean that We would he helpless vic.
tim to Germany; for the matter of
that, to any other great military pow.
er. We cannot AFFORD to owe an ignoble
safety to the British fleet or to lsk
our national future upon chance 9
some other nation showing more fceo
sight and efficiency than we are VIII
Ing to show.
NATIONS GREATEST NEED.
Il appeal primarily for the instant
By this nation of the three
great military needs Of the situation:
I'VE should Immediately institute,
not only for this war, but as our
national policy, the system
Of universal. obligatory military tram.
Ing and service for all our young men.
1--WE should at the earliest moment
strike hard and aggresstvely at Ger.
many and this can be done only by
sending abroad at the earliest moment
and expeditionary force. At least a d.
vision should be put in France within
the next few weeks and then put on
the firing line as quick as the allied
generals say it is ready: and its mum.
bers kept filed; and as rapidly as
other divisions can be gotten ready,
they should be sent over beside It:
until without an hours unnecessary
delay We accumulate at the front a
formidable fighting army. trained in
actual service conditions. and there
fore as far as possible. receiving its
training near the fighting
lines
ITO proceed at once to do every
thing for the up-building of the navy
capital ships. submarines, auxiliaries
cargo ships, everything"