The Washington herald., 1917-04-02
GARDNER To ASK war
coSr1SuED FROM PAGE ONE.


going to kick Germany in return and
then proceed to make good our words.
1T may be that I have got impatient
with this continuous squabble as to who
struck the first blow in the European
war, or it may be that I am tired of
complicated language. but I confess to
very firmly fixed hope that Congress
will cut away all the frills and where
ases and the rest of the highfalutin'
talk and simply. in few blunt words.
declare war against Germany. and
against any other power which wishes
to hitch up with her.
Now, II we are going into this war. let
us get into it with our entire strength.
We have been supplying the allies with
money and munitions ever since the war
broke out, and hope We shall continue
to do so. Now, let's get to work with
soldiers and ships as well, just as fast
as We can get soldiers and ships togeth-
or. which. unfortunately. is not going TO
hc very fast. Since we are going to war,
let US fight like men and not like money
hags
In the good old American style, we
have put of buying our powder till we
see the whites of the enemy's eyes. To
he sure, seven months ago. we tardily
voted to build a lot of new ships and en-
list a lot OF new men in the navy. but
ltt sllpS are mot many OF lneIn
are not even begun, and the men are not
enlisted. Even when the men are en-
listed, they will be only raw recruits and
not good for much for about a year.
Everybody knows that we have no
troops ready to send into the trenches
Even our regulars would need a good
deal Of training. They know nothing
about bomb throwing and practically
nothing about trench attack Neverthe-
II khoN
sentimental people who would like to
see at least brigade OF Uncle Sans in
fantry turn up on the fighting line and
give the allies hearty slap on the back
and wish them we'll Furthermore. even
" we can send only twenty destroyers
over to ireland to help the allies fight
the submarines. nevertheless let US send
our twenty. even II we have to strip some
OF the crews OF our fashioned re-
serve battIeships.
Train French Army.
I believe in training a large army At
once. II will take a year to get IL ready
Tor the trenches: II will cost a lot of
money: It may not be At to fight before
peace Is restored. Perhaps. It will not
be needed at all; IL so. so such the bet
ter But II our army IS needed, II Is GO
ing to be needed very, very badly To
the onlooker, II looks as IL the allies are
more likely to need merchant ships and
soldiers than they are to need warships
and money.
Now. one word as to the question of
an alliance with the fighting nations. I
have read many statements to the effect
that We must remain foot-loose in this
war; that we must be prepared to make
a separate peace whenever Germany Is
willing to concede what we are seeking.
In other words, we are told that we must
enter into no agreement with the allies
by which we promise not to make q
separate peace.
II that Is public opinion at the pres
en- time, prophesy q speedy change. II
soundB nns for US to preserve our right
to make q separate peace without regard
to the allies. but how would II be- after
We had begun to fight, IL the allies were
suddenly to make q separate peace with
out regard to US? That might not be
80 pleasant. unless We feel sure that we
can rspsl the German feet with few
vell-darectsd shots from Chantauqua
p,atfornA"