The Carlisle independent., 1917-05-10

StaJeS coast guard SerNlce, contain true stories of valiant deeds. written briefly and without boasting 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 a few of the cutters were used to guard mine fields laid in the approaches to our harbors, but 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. It 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 to 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 will not be able to cope with a submarine if it appears above the surface to give battle. One of our coast guard yes sels can stand good many shells without going to the bottom unless, of course, one of the projectiles shall hit a vital place below the water line.
 When it is travelling on the surface a submarine uses its guns, and not it's 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 un- 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 it's harsh and in it's ap- pealing features. Alaska. however, is recognized as being rugged rather than harsh and rugged characteristics are soldier-making characteristics.
 The government has been at work in Alaska for a great many years. It has been represented there by soldiers and civilians Men of the service and of civil life together have built roads and trails through the great territory in order to make 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 con- 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 P. Richardson, U. s. A., has been president of this board of commissioners for a long time. Now with war upon us it seems certain that the field of operations of Colonel Rich ardson will be changed from the great territory of the United States to the field of military operations. Nearly all the colonels of the United States service today before long will be wear ing the stars of brigadier or major general.
 Men Alaska Can Furnish.
 The nature of the Alaskan territory, like that of all virgin and semi-virgin countries, makes it a fine field for the fostering of manhood. It seems likely that from Alaska there will come min CTS, and road builders, blasters, trench diggers, chasm spanners, and men gen. erally used to the overcoming of nat ural obstacles, to a service already vir- tually equipped without much prelim- mary training for that kind of field work which seems to be inseparable from the methods of modern warfare.
 It is to be wondered if the Ameri- can people have thorough apprecia- ton of what the development of Alaska by the road builders has meant In the way of hard work. It Is rec ognized that hard work Is a compara-