The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-24

II am in favor of an army Of volun
teers, at least at the start, sale
Hull today. Il oppose the conscrip
ton of boys from 10 to % years OF
age, to bear the entire military burd
en- of the war, as the president pro
poses. II after the volunteer SYSTEM
has been tried out, CONSUMPTION
should be found necessary, | would
| fix the ages of those drafted at be-
| tween 81 and %. l expect to get to
express my views during the debate
and shall speak in favor of the vol
unteer bill"
Message to America.
| [By George Martin, United Press
Staff Correspondent
! WASHINGTON, April 4.-Con-
scrtption is vital to America before
the nation can have any success in
the war
Lieut.. Gen. B. T. NJ Bridges stepped
out of the great international war
council of the allies here to deliver
this message to the American people
today.
While congress wrangled over the
selective conscription bill out on capt.
toll hill, this tall, arrow straight fight
er in khaki. fresh from the front,
counted the cost OF the volunteer sys-
tenn to England
I'VE were saddled with the yolun-
teer system at the beginning OF the
war" said Bridges. I'VE would have
given anything to get rid of it.
1T hampered and retarded US In
every phase OF our war development
THE volunteer system threw the
best industrial forces of the country
into the trenches when they were
badly needed at home; and it left at
home those whose places were at the
front.
IF we had had conscription at the
beginning, it would have obviated our
later difficulties as to munitions, CO.
ordination of our national forces and
many other vital things"
Then Lieutenant General Bridges
sounded the keynote OF the British
commissions message to the Ameri-
can people. He said:
IF you're going to war you must go
the whole hog.
You must go to it intelligently.
Systematically.
Men, women and children must all
fight. at home and at the front.
TT is no longer a war merely Of
expeditions.
It's war of nations"
Lieutenant General Bridges then
made 1t clear that England believes
CONSUMPTION alone, with the co-ordina-
ton of national forces it involves, will
enable America to speel the end of
the war
Our duty now is to speed up the
war" he said forcefully.
AS to how 1t viii end, It can only
end one way: and IL everybody's back
Is put to the Job we can end 1t quick
~. CONSUMPTION wiz insure that this
Is done"
And even as We, your people with
tary knowledge, have much to learn.
Perhaps We can help you as the
French helped US. to avoid some Of
the larger pitfalls into which we fell
at the beginning of the war"
General Bridges emphasized that
this spirit OF helpfulness predomi-
mated the purpose OF the British com
mission.
There is no intention or desire to
interfere in your show" he said, char
acteristically.
But when asked, he said he would
if invited, be glad to appear before
the house and senate and discuss Eng
lands experiences in raising an army.
Bridges then turned TO the details
OF military training.
81 hope" he said, America will not
be guilty Of our blunder in sending
officers to the front with guns on their
shoulders.
You hear great deal about the
tremendous importance of artillery.
1t Is important-to prepare the way
but artillery cannot dig the enemy out
OF their positions. Only the bayonet
can do that.
"Bayonets win battles"
The great giant Of a man-he's six
feet four Understanding erect in
his khaki and heavy, thick soldier
shoes, formed a sharp contrast to the
elegance OF the sumptuously ap-
pointed room around him.
The subdued, intenseness Of the
man fresh from the trenches was up
on him.
The subdued, intenseness Of the
man fresh from the trenches was up
on him.
General" It was asked, "is it advis-
able to keep UP our commerce and IN
ternal manufactures as nearly to nor
nal as may be in war time?"
by all means" said Bridges. Keep
UP every phase of commerce and in
dustry that is important to the bust
ness life OF the nation.
However" he added, 1--WE have dis
continued making pins for the Chinese
and things like that.
The general then spoke OF Eng
lands attitude toward conscription.
THE people OF England are won to
universal service. They are strong
for conseription. | may say they are
fanatics on the subject.
They opposed it only because they
didn't know what it was. They now
realize that it is simply the making OF
war on business principles
The calm, unimaginative command
er of fighting men then pointed out
,z.l K;t,heper'S volunteer re-