Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-16
MAYOR ASKED To
MD DEFENSE MOVE
PREPAREDNESS COME r & NJ {
SENDS LETTER TO CITY EXECU-
TiVES THRUOUT NATiON--CRiT.
iCAl TIME, COMMITTEE SAYS.

Among the plans adopted for arous-
ing interest in the move for national
preparedness is that of sending letters
TO the mayors oi cities thruout the
country, urging them TO personally
use their Influence in their respective
communities, to the end that popular
sentiment on this important subJert
may be crystallized.
Mayor Bradford has received one OF
these letters. 1t was sent out by the
conference committee On national pre-
paredness, with headquarters III Ne"
York City. The chairman is Henry
Wise Wood who, with his associates,
has been making study of army and
navy conditions in the United States
and who has the figures to support all
his arguments, he claims.
Appealing 20 Mayor Bradford on
the ground of security and for the
purpose of saving the lives of your
fellow citizens Mr. Woods letter
says:
You are doubtless aware that we
are at critical time in our life as a
nation. far more critical than most
men realize. A navy sufficient to re
store our safety at sea is yet to be
built. Last years scheme to give rs
an army has failed EveA il the regu'
lar army as provided by the leglsla-
ton OF the last session OF Congreo os
were sufficient in size to repel an IN
vasion, the rate at which the recruit
ing proceeds presages failure and the
mobilization OF the national guard on
/ The border proves conclusiyely that IL
our nation depends upan such sys-
tenn for defense, this fallacy will pro
duce immense disasters in the future
as it has done in the past.
"Of the total number on the rolls
of the national guard at the call for
mobilization nearly 1867 were lost
/ on account of physical disability, OF
for other reasons,
4
the border-H2S, ,CC)--nearly one-hah,
or G00GJ, were without any military
training; 5G,Sl3 had never fired a
military rifle, and only 81 per cent OF
those who were enrolled when the call
came mustered into service. There
fore, had our troops been called upon
to face the troops Of a lirst-claSs, OF
even second-class power, the most
appalling slaughter OF our own people
would have betn Inevitable.
These figures are significant, but
they are especially prophetic Wher
you recall that in peace times one
foreign nation can land S27OjC
trained soldiers on cur Atlantic coast
in 4j days, and another nation can al
present land 23S,C00 seasoned troops
on our Pacific Coast in Us days. Is II
wise longer to leave our homes anf
ou' families unprotected when VIC
can so easily raise an effective bar
iier against war reaching to our ow.
, shores?
, Training Only Safeguard.
Universal military training am
service is now our only Safeguard
/ against general disaster, should wa
come with first class military power
2 Without it we will never have al
| army sullicient to inspire the respec
Ct predatory nations, ald in the nam
G OF humanity and patriotism, ask you
I for the sake of men and women o
Il your own city, to give your inHuenc
to bring about this much needle
a change IN our military system. II wa
e comes as the result of our present a
y most criminal negligence, it Will carr
s of the Young men Of Jour city Just 4
u have our past wars, so what bette
service could you render your fellbo'
r citizens than by helping so to shap
It conditions tEat we shall be made to
l. secure to warrant any nation attacl
II ing us?'
Mayor Bradford believes the bes
move at this time is to give the letlt
from New York publicity.
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