Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-10-25
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Number One
America Must Fight Hard or Germany
May Win-Necessty for Mill
tary Training.
Number One

"Now, Billie" said his mother, your
Uncle Dan is coming tomorrow to
spend week with US on the farm and
IL you want to know about the war.
here's your opportunity. Uncle Dan is
probably one Of the best-informed men
in the country" Billie clapped his
hands and gave such a whoop Il. t he
wakened the baby, but what could you
expect of ifteen-year-old boy who is
living Interrogation point and wants
to know about war?
Uncle Dan arrived in due time and
Billie watched for an opportunity. 1t
came that evening after dinner when
Uncle Dan had lighted a cigar and
taken a seat on the porch.
"rm mighty glad you came, Uncle
Dan. I 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, it 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 it, Ger
many may yet win, and if she does, she
Will take over the great British fleet as
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 a 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 them
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 /
hnI {lvr bot
forced the war upon us. AS, it was, he
had no respect for us, and now we are
In it 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 it to every young man who is
physically fit, ~ay in his nineteenth OF
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"
Billie's mother, Mrs. Graham. had
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. it
is high time for us to wake up and do
something about it,
Exactly" replied Uncle Dan. "It
Is better to wake up now than to be
rudely awakened later. We NAV as
well understand, sister, that this is our
war and we must win it or God helm
America. Everything that we have
or hope to have-our liberties. orr
blessings, our opportunities are all in
volved in the great issue before US.
Nothing must stand between US and
winning this war. It is a question
whether the peoples right or the kali
ser's might shall dominate the world.
If there ever was holy war, this is
it. We are fighting for world liberty.
We are fighting for the freedom of
humanity. We are fighting for the
right of men to govern themselves in
stead of being governed against their
will by war-mad overload. Perilous
times are ahead of US. We must be
prepared to make any sacrifice, to per-
form any service that may be required
of u.s."
"Oh, Uncle Dan,n exclaimed Billie,
may I bring my chum, Jimmie Col
Inns, when we have our next talk? He
is bug OF this war business and just
crazy to see you"
Certainly" said Uncle Dan, with
hearty laugh. IF we are to have more
talks, l shall be glad to have Jimmie
join u.s.
Billie clapped his hands and ran to
the phone and told Jimmie to be over
at seven o'clock the next evening.