Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-11-02
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Number One
America Must Fight Hard or Germany
May Wln-Necesslty for Mill.
tary Training.
Number One

Uncle Dnn is coming tomorrow to
spend week with us on the farm, and
If you want to know about the war,
here's your opportunity. Uncle Dan is
probably one of the bestInformed men
In the country" Billie clapped his
hands and gave such whoop that he
wakened the baby, but what could you
expect of fifteen-year-old boy who is
a living Interrogation point and wants
to know about war?
Uncle Dan arrived In due time and
Billie watched for On opportunity. 1t
came that evening after dinner when
Uncle Dan had lighted a cigar and
taken a seat on the porch.
I'm mighty glad you came, Uncle
Dan. 1 want to talk to you about the
war. We have just put military train
Ing In our township high school, but
we had hard time to do It. The
Joneses and the Greggs objected. They
said the war wouldn't come over here
Grandma Jones said: They amt no
use to worrit, it will soon blow over
Well, we put the training In just the
same. You orter heard Judge Brow.
nell. the president of the school bonrd,
do the slackers up. He said unless we
take Off our coats and go to it, Ger.
manJ may yet win, and IL she does, she
will take over the great British fleet as
q war trophy and compel us to do what
ever she wants to; that she could make
US pay all the cost of the war; the
kaiser could tax us as he pleased and
that we couldn't help ourselves. He
could make every one pay over part
of what he earns; that he could make
the farmers pay rent for their own
farms, etc. Now, Uncle, what do you
think of that2"
swell, my boy" said Uncle Dan,
"all that Judge Brownell says might
easily come true and may unless we go
quickly to the aid of the allies with
large numbers Of men and help them
break the German line. Unless we can
beat the submarines, they may pre-
vent us from getting enough food tc
the allies to keep them going. In that
case Germany would win. AS matters
stand today, our greatest need is
trained men. If we had had several
millions Of men with military training
In our industries and on our farms
when the war came, who could
have been called mt once for service.
do not believe the kaiser would have
forced the war upon us. AS it was, he
had no respect for us, and now we are
In 1t and must go through with 1t. But
never again must we be caught Sc
wholly unprepared.
There Is only one safe way" sald
Uncle Dan, "and that is to adopt per
manently universal military training.
apply 1t to every young man who 10
physically fit, say in his nineteenth o,
twentieth year. The training can be
carried forward in the United States
training camps that are now being es
tablished for training men called BIZ
the 'selective draft. AS soon rs these
men vacnte these stations, they should
b" filled by younger men. and this
Guild be made the permanent policy
OF the country"
Billie's mother, Mrs. Graham, had
overheard the conversation. She came
out and said: Really, Brother Dan.
are you serious as to the dangers OF
our country? If it is as bad as that II
Is high time for us to wake up and do
something about It,"
"Exnctly," replied Uncle Dan. Tt
is better to wake up now than to be
rudely awakened later. We may as
well understand, sister, that this is oui
war and we must win 1t or God helr
America. Everything that we have
or hope to have-our liberties, on,
blessings. our opportunities are all In.
yolved In the great issue before us
Nothing must stand between us md
winning this war. 1t Is question
whether the peoples right or the kai.
ser's might shall dominate the world
If there ever was holy war; this is
1t. We are fighting for world liberty
We are fighting for the freedom Of
humanity. We are fighting for the
right of men to govern themselves In
stead of being governed against theIr
will by war-mad overload. PerIlous
times are ahead of us. We must be
prepared to make any sacrifice, to per
form any service that may be required
of u.s."
"Oh, Uncle Dan," exclaimed Billie,
may I bring my chum. Jimmie Col.
Inns. when we have our next talk? he
Is bug on~this war business and just
crazy to see you"
+ Certainly" said Uncle Dan, with o
hearty laugh. IF we are to have moro
talks, 1 shall be glad to have Jimmie
| join u.s."