The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-05-08

warn my countrymen against is thu
so-called short war idea. 1t was thii
fallacy that so crippled France, that Sc
seriously crippled England, in theil
preparations for their struggle witt
| Germany. They thought ii was going
10 be only short war; so they made
their preparations only from day to
| day, from month to month. 1t is not
| for us TO fall into the same, this OBJ
| vious, error. There Is no indication
that this will be short war. On the
other hand it looks as though 1t would
We very long war--a long war and a
bitter war. And it behooves all in
America TO think, and so to plan. IT,,
then, 1t should turn out to be short
war so much the better But if u
long one, We will be ready to carry it
on to q victorious conclusion.
For this, first money and supplies.
Credit to the allied governments; and
everything that from our vast re-
sources, we can supply them.
And then, universal military train
ing. The volunteer system is no
good. In times OF national need it
has always broken down; as it will
always break down; because it is
economically and psychologically un-
sound. Consumption is good as far
as 1t goes But il does not so far
enough The one thing. and the only
one thing, that will give us the num-
her of trained soldiers that we must
lie npiYarco1 ,,,t1itoptr fra In Inn
And that is what all of us here in
America must strive to gain.
Furthermore, want to impress,
and impress as hard as | know how,
because it is most important. thI pres
ent tone Of the German spirit 1t is
cruel 1t is brutal. 1t is bitter"
Perhaps you have read he went
on, what | have said of their treat
ment of the prisoners?"
had OF great dogs, in prison
camps, encouraged to use their fangs
on the helpless: of German children
shooting. with new and nail-tipped ar.
rows the defenseless. OF starvation,
abuse; even of the placing OF well
prisoners in the contagious camps
where they would be sure to sicken
and die.
with the Germans this is war of
hate. With capital II They are to
win il they can. To win they are going
to use all their resources, every
means in their power, fair or foul. or
even worse. They are going to fight
with every man. with every gun, with
every ship, with every means and
every agent, that lie in their power
TO use.
Tell those to whom you write that
that is what they face. Not a short
war, but a long war, and bitter one!
cruel country capable OF taking and
giving many a grievous blow Not a
disorganized nation, short of men
and supplies. but possessing still the
greatest and still virtually as well
equipped an army as is possessed by
any nation i'm the world
TO fight such a nation, so equip
ped. II is not enough for the United
States to organize a small army II |
must have a great army. II is not
enough for them To stay here at home, |
loaning money and munitions to the |
Allies They must send them men,
and more men. 1t is not enough to |
sit peacefully at home thinking how |
safe we are. and that no danger i'm
Ponds to us here in America. A great |
a grave. horrible danger impends |
Let the German navy get loose; let |
the German armies have possession of |
the seas and see what would happen |
to safe. distant America!
!Let these. then, be the slogans of |
America Complete and Perfect Pre-