Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-02-16

rt of New York. The picture shows
red.
~~~-~~-~-o~-~-~~~~-~~~~
lars on the border recently sit up and
eat humble pie.
There are more civilian aviators than
ihere are regular army aviators, and
from present indications the former are
more experienced.
The European war has shown that
1t does not take long to instruct mill
tary aerial observers and these could
be trained in short time.
Transport Difficulties Small.
AS for transport and quartermaster
corps there would be little or no diff
Guilty in finding plenty of business men
who would be capable of handling
these branches of service in fitting
manner. The system of supply and
transportation might be slow at first,
but when one is acquainted with the
fact that in New York state alone there
are 310,457 automobiles, fully half OF
which could be utilized as light or
heavy transport trucks, and the re-
mainder converted into cars for Off
GERS and for courier service, it will be
understood that there are no very great
obstacles in the way of supply trains.
Railroad transportation on account
of the length of our coast line would
present some difficulties at first, but
witheut doubt could be remedied with
great speed.
The mobilization of the manufactur-
ing industries of the nation has already
been worked out by the authorities at
Washington.
OF men we have plenty. Materials
in the crude state we have sufficient,
but rifles, heavy artillery and ammu-
milton enough, let alone uniforms,
blankets, equipment, medical supplies,
etc, are a different story.
The Red Cross has plenty of nurses
to put on the field for the first line
hospitals. Ambulance corps such as
sSyere formed in France coJld be quick
~ put into commission and would I'M
doubtedly do good service.
The militia of the country is prob
abby in better shape from a military
standpoint than it ever was in the his
tory of it's organization. If enough
regular army officers were available to
distribute among the various COM
mands, it would be a fairly efficient
fighting force. Unfortunately there
are many officers in the militia of the
country who have no right from mill
tary or mental qualifications to wear
shoulder straps.
American Legion Intact.
The American Legion, while official
ly disbanded, is still intact. On the
books of the organization, which have
been preserved, are the names Of some
$4,000 men who have seen active serv
ice in various parts of the world, Ell
Their as officers or enlisted men. Gaia
logued under proper headings are abou
$4,000 men or boys who are experts a
some trade necessary to the army
There are telegraph operators, miners
high explosive men, railroad engineers
| civil engineers, ammunition makers
draughtsmen, wagon makers, automo
bile mechanics and drivers, cowboys
hotel stewards. men in all branches o
life suitable for the commissary de
partments, electricians, etc. This lis
should be of decided value to the wa
! department.
These are hnt fev of +he WAYS man
ners, men and materials which can b,
called into play if the country finds i
necessary.
In conclusion, I would call attention
to the Boy Scouts of America, wht
could help in the event of war in an!
number of ways, and who, am sure
1 would rise to the emergency in the
same plucky manner as their little
! brother scouts have done in every coun
| try in Europe.
| That the women OF America would
! shoulder their share OF the burden, NJ
| true American for a minute doubts
they have done it in the past and car
! do it in the future.
To mobilize all the industries, men
organizations, etc, would of course re
/ quire more time than it has in the
countries Of Europe, bat it would b.
/ done. The American people have {
habit of taking a lot for granted, bu
/ when an emergency arises they gen
| orally are able to meet it.