The Green Forest tribune., 1917-02-16


 | lars on the border recently sit up and eat humble pie.
 There are more civilian aviators than there are regular army aviator, and from present indications the former are more experienced.
 The European war has shown that it does not take long to instruct m tary aerial observers anI these coulf | be trained in a short time.
 Transport Difficulties sra.
 As for transport and quartermaster corps there would be little or no diff culty in finding plenty of business men who would be capable of handling these branches of service in fitting manner. The system of supply and transportation might be slow at first, I but when enc is acquainted with the fact that in New York state alone there are 310,457 automobiles, fully half of | which could be utilized as light or | heavy transport trucks, and the re- mainder converted into cars for offi- cers and for courier service, it will be understood that there are no very great
 
 obstacles in the way of supply trainS. Railroad transportation on ,sccount | of the length of our coast line would present some difficulties/at first, but without doubt could be remedied with great speed.
 The mobilization of the maauEaetEF- ing industries of the nation has already beer worked out by the authorities at Washington.
 Of men we have plenty Materials in the crude state we 5have sufficient, but rifles, heavy artillery and ammu- milton enough, let alone uniforms, blankets, equipment, medical supplies, etc, are a different story.
 The Red Cross has plenty of nurses to put on the field for the first line hospitals. Ambulance corps such as were formed in France could be quick | ly put into commission and would un- | doubtedly do good service. The militia of the country is prob ably in better shape from a military standpoint than it ever was in the his | tory of it's organization. If enough
 
 distribute among the various com mands, it would be a fairly efficient 1 fighting force. Unfortunately there are many officers in the militia of the country who have no right from mili- 1 tary or mental qualifications to wear shoulder straps.
 American Legion Intact.
 The American Legion, while official l ly disbanded, is still intact. On the books of the organization, which have been preserved, are the names of some 1S,0O0 men who have seen active serv- ice in various parts of the world, ei- ther as officers or enlisted men. Cata- logued under proper headings are about 33,00O men or boys who are experts at some trade necessary to the army. There are telegraph operators, miners, high explosive men, railroad engineers, civil engineers, ammunition makers, draughtsmen, wagon makers, automo- bile mechanics and drivers, cowboys, hotel stewards, men in all branches of l life suitable for the commissary de- partments, electricians, etc. This list should be of decided value to the war department.
 These are but few of the ways, man. ners, men and materials which can be called into play if the country finds it necessary.
 In conclusion, I would call attention to the Boy Scouts of America, who could help in the event of war in any number of ways, and who, am sure, would rise to the emergency in the same plucky manner as their little brother scouts have done in every coun- try in Europe.
 That the women of America would 1 shoulder their share of the burden, DO | true American for minute doubts :; 1 they have done it in the past and can | do it in the future.
 To mobilize all the industries, men, organizations, etc., would of course re- | quire more time than it has in the countries of Europe, but it would be done. The American people have q habit of taking a lot for granted, but when an emergency arises they gen | erally are able to meet it.