The Washington herald., 1917-03-29
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
Men for the Navy

Men for the Navy.
New York TImcsl
1t is said that interest in naval re-
cruiting has increased more than % per
cent since the threat OF war. 1t must
speedily increase more than 100 per cent
If the men needed for the ships are to be
trained in time. Measures must be adopt
ed to impress the advantages OF naval
service more strongly on the youth OF
the country. Recruiting methods must
be improved. 1t is not enough to have
the number OF recruits in a month
doubled or trebled. The navy wants men
now more than it ever wanted them be-
fore. 1t is an unpleasant fact that so
large a proportion of the men who apply
at the offices are rejected for physical
disability which may be slight but is
enough to prevent their acceptance. After
universal training has been in operation
for a few years that difficulty will be re-
moved. One Of the greatest merits OF in
tersive training is that it makes men
healthy and develops their powers OF en-
durance. We have had ample proof of
that In the experience of the Plattsburg
rockies"
The navy will get its men. But at pres
ent 1t Is slow In getting in touch with
them. Complaint is made that it is hardl
to get storekeepers to put the navy's
that is because the persons who have
had this kind of work TO do have not
gone about IL in the right way. 1t ought
TO be an easy job to place placards in
nearly every shop window in Manhattan
The right man could do It quickly. Every
body approves Of the navy.
Boston Transcript.
Boston Trans-ipt)
The patriotic action of J. P Morgan &
Co in putting 81. 10000 at the disposal
, of the United States government for the
army. at the solicitation OF the commit
tee Of the New York Chamber OF Com
merce which is cooperating with the
authorities engaged in purchasing mill
tary supplies, is most commendable
Army funds were exhausted. in conse-
auence of the political pulling and hauling
and flibustering which left the army
without its appropriations at the adjourn
ment Of Congress. Private concerns had
furnished the government with as much
as s250ooo worth OF goods without money
some could not do that; and at this juno
ture the placing of these funds at the
governments disposal by Morgan & Co
came as a most welcome relief. The act
recalls the patriotic service OF Robert
Morris. when. in the Revolution, and
, more than once during that struggle. he
pledged the funds of his house, and his
! =
ance Of the war. Robert Morris will he
honored as long as the republic endures
Nor will the prompt action of Morgan &
Co. in this emergency be forgotten.
Three Arguments.
tChicaso HeraldN
The government has called out the Ma
| uonal Guard OF various States The Ma
, tional Guard has already given proofs q,
It's patriotism and devotion to duty on the
Mexican border. Now IL Is called on "a,
| undertake possibly lengthier and more
arduous service. 1t is the old story of the
few being saddled with the responsibility
that should be borne equally by the
many.
Secretary Daniels has issued an appea1
| for recruits to bring the navy up to the
full war strength. On the verge of war
| the navy is not sufficiently manned
| Worse than that. the government at the
most critical moment in our history for
years is compelled to appeal when it
should be able to command, to act with
| energy and decision.
| Gen. Won Stein, Prussian Minister Of
war. gives out an interview in which he
| speaks of Americas entrance into the
| conflict as "a minor consideration" He
| declares that there can be no question
OF an American continental army in the
near future" In brief the fact that
|
! couldn't send an expedition OF any size
to Europe II We wanted to at present-is
the fact uppermost in the Prussian war
minister's mind and a fact beyond ques-
! tion that has had something to do with
Germany's flouting of our rights.
| If Congress wishes a few additional
arguments setting forth in unanswerable
fashion the Justice and necessity for uni
| versal and compulsory military training
In the United States it can readily find
| them in these three events embodied in
the news of a single day.
| The "MarseiIIaise."
(Kansas City star)
II Nicholas Romanoff had thought up
any nne words to say by way Of farewell
| to his" army they are lost to history.
for according to the account that comes
to US his attempted good-by remarks were
drowned by the chant of the "Marseil-
| laise,' struck up by the revolted troops.
That luckiest musical composition ever
promulgated" as Carlyle calls it, has
been no friend to kings. Even in times
| OF calm. when tax collectors could get
almost as good insurance rates as Amer
lean citizens on the high seas no king
| could hear the strains of this disorderly
hymn without hitching nervously about
| on his throne and glancing over his Shout
der to see II the back door leading to the
hre escape was open and unimpeded.
When the Bourbons got back upon thei-
throne. after an absence Of more than
twenty years, and had quieted its rock
ing sufficiently to overcome the uncom-
Portable seasick feeling 1t gave them, the
first thing they did was to prohibit the
singing Of the "Marseillaise" II any
body wanted to see Bourbon leave his
dinner and make a slide for the cyclone
cellar with his scepter under one arm anc
q blank abdication form in his pocket all
he had to do was to whistle bar or two
Of the "Marseillaise" through the key
hole