American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-04-26

arouse patriotism, but are terribly I'M
equal TO the deadly task before them.
As 10 machine guns. we have none
worthy OF the name, except 24O bought
from the British government for which
II Is necessary TO import British am
munitlon an our shells do not AZ these
gunsi The guns we're begged from
England when the Mexican crisis was
acute.
We have barely enough rifles 10 sup
ply the regular army and militia. Our
government munition factories have
a maximum capacity OF 1900 20 1900
per day. At present. we are making
less than one-tenth that amount, due
10 the supposition that a peaceful ma
lion would have no heed for guns. You
can figure for youself how long Il viii
take to supply our army at this rate,
Al one time recently "a largest ar
senal with a capacity Of many hundred
a day was turning out less than seven
ty-ave every twenty-four hours.
As TO equipment, we car partially
equip the regular army, the state mill
tia, and a few volunteers. Some OF
the necessary supplies we are entirely
unable to furnish. The proposed army
OF three million men would have TO
fight with their fists and wear their
citizens clothes for six months or more
before the government could supply
them with military accoutrements.
our most painful preparation for
hostilities Is the extensive %aeroplane
branch OF the service. We have a high
officer In command Of the a%eroplane
corps but few aircraft for him to com
mand. America Is the birthplace Of
kthe flying machine. and yet We have
NO fighting aeroplancs. No, not even
. one, unless you count one a patriotic
, American has recently promised to
, give 10 tho government. Our aero
planes for scout duty are not modern.
The engines we use are capable only
q OF developing one horsepower to
/, every as pounds OF engine weight,
whereas, machines built for speed are
: capable of developing one horse-pow-
or for every 2.5 pounds Of engine
weight. The enemies %aeroplanes
could out mauOeuyer ours. II would
! be like matching a poodle against a
greyhound In a race and the stakes In
p the race are death. A%eroplanes are
OF course. 80 expensive that America
4 could not afford them. that is, in the
/, opinion OF the p~ork-barrel paclhsts in
congress.
a AS for munitions, we will have
enough by careful management to
' supply our army in a regular battle
a In which the full force contemplated
! Is engaged, for at least two hours.
Enough OF this miserable statement
q OF incompetency and criminal neglect
I What are you going to do about t.
A What force have we to fight with
What Is. our potential strength"
Americans have been lulled into
n a false sense OF security by dema.
|, gogues of all parties. The people have
O not been permitted to know the truth
= When they do know II. and realize thaI
= they have been betrayed by timid anC
q false leadership. some OF their idols
a Will fall from their spedestals. IL 1;
g not c%onsoling to reflect hat less thar
n two years ago We were told that those
who feared war and sought to prepar,
o against II we're nervous and excitable
It Ia not c%onsoling to reflect that we
d the richest nation in the world. had tC
borrow machine guns TO meet poverty
stricken Mexican brigands. II Is no
c%onsollng to reflect that the only wal
o plane we have is a borrowed one. Il
Is not consoling to reflect that on the
Atlantic coast alone are more thar
$50 harbors where troops could lanC
without a gun to defend them. II Il
II not consoling to reflect that these
d things have been concealed from the
o public; that those who would have
r made them known have had theii
mouths closed by their s%uperiors.
y There are no moro patriotic people
than Americans. and when the tru'
conditions are known to them, rene
dies will be found. Patriotism doe.
not consist In continuing to keep thu
people Ia ignorance OF the truth.