The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1917-11-16
GEN. WOOD PREDICTS
A LONG HARD WAR
WE ARE ONLY BEGINNING AND
OUR GREATEST CONCERN is TO
GET READY-5,ooo,oo 900 MEN ARE
NEEDED.

St. Louis, Nov -Major-GeneralI
Leonard Wood, commander of the
eighty-ninth division of the United
States army who arrived in st.
Louis yesterday, was met at Pana,
ILL.,. in the morning by reporter
After clambering out of his berth.
the general went to the dressing
room and shaved He was hailed by
the usual travelling men who crowd
these compartments to smoke. Gen.
Wood returned the greetings of his
stranger friends, and made the best
of his safety razor to accompaniment
of the jerking and rolling of the car.
Much refreshed after his ablu-
tions, he entered the diner. where
others recognized and arose to greet
him.
He was in good humor, and said
he had a restful night. He was
travelling light, with only the bag
gage of soldier-a uniform, a WOOL
en- shirt and a small bag" as he
expressed it,
I'VE will need 100000 men, prob
ably more, before we have done with
this war" he said to the reporter in
answer to the question in everyones
mind How long will the war last?
And we will need 100000 officers.
The condition in Russia aggravates
the thing, and Italy, too, is contribut-
ing to our concern.
"a prediction as to how long the
war will last would be only specu-
lative. you know; but weare in a
hard fight that | believe will last
long. Our greatest concern now
should be to get ready; not how long
it will last, for we are just be-
ginning
General Wood was asked to con-
trast present conditions with those
| attending the Spanish-American war.
1.-THE Spanish-American war was
wild with enthusiasm because 1t
happened so suddenly, but the spirit
in the present circumstances was a
more serious one; the people are
more thoughtful. more determined"
he answered. 1T is the right spirit
cool, calm and without passion.
Response to the liberty loan and the
general activity in war industries
| is proof that we realize the weight
of our responsibility. There can be
but one end, and l believe all feel
this, but let's stop thinking about
that; let's get ready for the thing.
| "Feeling the pulse Of the American
| spirit will show us the temper of
the country; it is one of cool, calm
determination ii accomplish what we
are setting out to do.
Considering the time we have
had in which to prepare, should
say that we are ahead of the sched-
ule in general preparedness. The Sc
| lected men particularly have ex-
ceeded our expectations in this res
pect, and we may trust them to do
their part as BELTS the American"
What is the greatest urgent need
of the country at this time" he was
asked.
Lord Northcliff answered that
question with Ships and | will am
plify his answer by saying guns of
all Sizes" Gen. Wood answered.
Give us ships and guns and we are
ready for the first stroke"
Gen. Wood does not believe the
people at home fully comprehend the
situation confronting the country with
regard to incidentals to war, such as
the soldiers welfare in and out or
camp.
81 cannot stress too greatly the
Importance of the work proposed by
the War Camp Environs Commission
Almost as many men in every army
are made unfit for service by lack
of welfare work as are destroyed in
action.
II want to see an American army
of self respecting young men, de-
serving the full respect of their
officers and their country, go into
this conflict. We cannot keep these