The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-12-18
BEING BRAYED IN A MORTAR"
(By THEODORE ROOSEVELT

DRESlDENT WILSON speaks in military matters
through his secretary Of war The sole importance Of
the secretary OF wars report from its being the
official declaration Of the president discuss such
According TO the reports in the New York World, the
secretary of states that e does favor universal
military training as permanent policy" Mr.. Wilson's
secretary therefore takes what is in effect the position OF
Mr. Bryan, which picturesquey phrased being that
a million men at need spring to night The
administrations attitude is less pcturesquely expressed
but is precisely as futile and as unspeakaby mscheyous
from standpoint OF permanent national interest
However it is taken at the very time when the disastrous
effect Of the Administrators policy of complete unpre-
paredness is being shown by the admissions of General
Crorier the first day of the congressional
Mr.. Bakers report, Mr. Bryans theory and the things
already shown by the congressional investigation dove
tail They stand in the relation of cause and effect The
administration Complacently announces that the policy
which this very has proved disastrous is to be
preserved in the future therefore complete re-
Sponsiby for every blunder and delay and for all the
misconduct and that these bundes and delays
and all this misconduct have taught nothing and that
TO ambe onward in the futile path until dis
aster overtakes Mr.. Wilson's administration officially
declares that we shall persist IN folly until we
are brsyed in the mortar OF dreadful calamity
II the administration frankly and msnfuly acknowl-
edged its evil errors in the past and chahponed policy
which would prevent repetition of these errors the fu-
ture, would think only Of the future and not OF the past
but it is necessary emphasize the past in order TO
avoid disaster in the future
We in the eleventh month since Germany went
TO war with We have not yet built an aeroplane fit
to match the speedy battle planes OF our foes We have not
built heavy field gun; the contrary we have had to
draw burdened friends to give us artillery In the
training camps Of the National AMY the artillery regi,
men still have about ten wooden guns for every old field
piece and they have Of the modern guns they are to
in the There are rifles only for every third or
fourth man Until ten months had elapsed there was no
target practice for few specially selected units The
troops still have only wooden machine guns and the trench
mortars they themselves improvise
Until ten months had elapsed they lacked even the nee
cssay warm clothing They have endured entirely need
less suffering and hardship Our troops in France have
received thousands Of collins but insufficient number OF
shoes At this moment not more than one tenth of our
soldiers, taken altogether are fit to go to battle Nine
tenthS Of gallant and fine spirited men are still with
out the training and equipment that would permit
them to meet any trained foes After ten months Of war
and the expenditure Of huge of money we are still
absolutely unable defend ourselves and owe our own
safely only to the fleets and armies Of our war worn allies
This condition is due solely and entirely to the policy
Of unprepaedness which the administrator adhered for
the two and half years when the bindest ought tC
have read the lesson Of the great war The administration
that TO alter this policy and tha
to continue the donothng policy of refusal to pre-
pare II the American people follow tho lead thus given
them, they will be guilty Of criminal folly
Copyright 1917 The Kansas City starr