The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-31
GERARD EXPOSES
GREAT FOLLY IF
NOT PREPARING
GERMAN-AMERICANS TO
BE LOYAL TO NATION
Advises the Helping Hand to
Citizens Who Love Their
Fatherland.

/ NEW YORK, March 20.---The fully
equipped aerial coast patrol station
at Port Washington. New York. To-
gether with an air cruiser fitted with
Two 200 horsepower motors and an
aeroplane gun. were offered TO the
government tonight through Tho Aero
Club OF America BY Rodman Wana-
Imaker. Announcement OF the gift was
made at dinner OF the Aero Club at
(which former Ambassador James W.
Gerard was one OF the speakers and
(which was attended by many men OF
prominence.
Mr.. Gerard, in his address, declared
that modern war is largely a matter
OF mechanics and munitions. The le-
gend Of the embattled farmer Is re-
sponsible. he said, for much unpre-
paredness.
! As to reparedness-
I'VE hear even today" he said.
"prattllngs about embattled farmers
taking their old muskets from over
the chimney-piece and defeating the
invader. But nowadays the old flint
lock means Zeppelins, aeroplanes. cap
tive observation balloons. steel he'll
NETS, gas and gas masks. machine
guns, Searchlights, sixteen inch guns
! and eighteen inch howitzers. trench
mortars, range finders, telescopes,
;armored automobiles, tanks; miles Of
barbed wire, underground mining,
rockets, and grenades and countless
iother instruments Of war, the proper
use OF which can only be learned af-
ter years OF hard application. All
these modem means of war require
great preparations. II we are In for
war We are IN for q serious war.
II believe that tho men OF German
blood who have joined us will remain
r. mo- n
descendants of the revOlutiunaTtes OF
IS DO with US IN the Aght? Some OF
The finest blood In America comes to Ns
from tho men OF '4S, or those who left
freedom, moro opportunity than they
could obtain in Europe, We must eN-
tend the help!ng hand to our German
Americans who. affected. as was their
timental feeling toward the land or
Germany and tho German people, are
nov ready 10 climb on the band wagon
But If there are mon whose desire
tho seeds of riot. rebellion and treason
then l think we know whcro to fcs-
toon them. But these will b" few. and
h"lp and tolerance must he our watch
words while the nation forms tor war
behind our president.
We so in this war only after every
move was made that could be made :or
peace. No one knows better than | Gu
mo m1Stertul eUOFlS 1Uo pIFSiucnt
made His work in this connection will
show like silver in tho dark pages of
the history Of this dreadful war Tho
president and his cabinet have been do
ing n wonderful work to preparc--hut
lie always works. whether for peace "r
war. without tho accompaniment Of a
brass band.
This is 10 time for patty. personal
ambitions or pcddling politics. Who
wants TO eat dinner cooked by an
amateur cook: who wants 10 be defend
ed by an amateur lawyer or d"ctnrcd ~
an amateur doctor. and who wants 70
20 to war under an amateur military
administration" Up to and inclndng
coonels. the National Guard is cf-
tioicnt but the management should ba
in tk- hands Of tho federal authorities.
EniFersal service Is the only solution.
SUBSTITUTE FOR FLOUR.
| BERLIN Via London. Mar. 90