Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-09-19
TENTH EPISODE
War in the Dooryard.
IN TIME OF PEACE.

The Punishment of Baron Huroki
proved to be as complete an affair as
heart could wish, a mystery as pro-
found, as finished. as thoroughgoihg
as could reasonably have been e.
pect.d even of Oriental subtlety, cum
ming and forehandness, leaving no room
for doubt but that the head of the Jap
anese secret service in the United
States had long anticipated and plan
ned against precisely such contingency
as had at last driven him out of public
life.
Without the slightest considerable
lead into that blind labyrinth of under
ground life wherein the japanese had
taken refuge, Patria's private bureau
OF Investigate ton, under the direction Of
Donald Parr. worked tirelessly for
weeks upon the problem, leaving no
stone unturned in its efforts to track
down the fugitlves.
AT last Parr, innately incredulous,
suspicious and solicil0us for Patria's
welfare, was drawn 20 admit that
Baron HurOh must have fed the cOun-
try.
he was at once gla and reluctant
to believe this-reluctant because he
feared lest some disaster impossible to
foresee develop through Overconti-
dence: glad because with Hurok elimi-
mated from the land, Patria was free
once r~ore from that persecution and
peril of assassination which had been
her daily portion ever since, in coming
of age, she had been so unfortunate as
to attract the attention of the Japa-
nese-Mexican junta.
But II both Donald and Patria
breathed more freely as day followed
day without overt attack upon the lat
ter or any of her properties, they did
not permit themselves to be deceived.
Beneath this truce both OWNED an I'M
ceasing ebb and flow Of intrigue.
Impossible as 1t was TO surmise in
what quarter or manner that malign
outbreak should be apprehended, Pa
trta and her aides neglected no imagi-
nable precaution. The small arms and
munitions factories, the ordnance foun-
dries, arsenals and shipyards owned by
Claiming, Inc, were reorganized to a
degree of the highest efficiency, each
working three shifts of employees
every twenty-four hours. Existing con-
tracts with the allies for war material
were filed, renewals and further or
ders were refused. Great stores OF
arms and ammunition began to accu-
mulate, and were held against that day
when. PLUNGED unexpectedly into war,
this nation sho,Id find itself in urgent
need of equipment for the hordes Of
unframed volunteers who would
spring up to its defense.
And whereas nothing could persuade
a purblind people to prepare physically
for the trials and strains of warfare,
nothing could prevent Patria, or any
other patriot, from putting the men
on the pay roll in shape to fight for
their homes.
Very quietly the Plattsburg scheme
was put into effect at Powder Town,
in accordance with the promise Patria
had made her employees at the time of
the strike. Under the supervision of
N|"PteAtA 4 u4A AAAN tAlAR&OFNNN NNAG VI
ganized into companie' put through a
course of setting-up drills. and in
structed in the use of arms-all on full
pay for the time demanded for these
exercises. Almost Immediately the sue
cess of tSe experiment was assured by
the respcnse of the men, their eager
interest and willingness.
Wit. this encouragement, Patria
caused the experiment to be put into
effect at all the Channings plants. Its
success was uniform. In "A space of
time incredibly brief the half-million
men employed by Channings in vari-
Gus capacities were organized and rap
idly approaching a state Of military
efficiency.
In short. all that could be accom-
plished toward the preparation of this
country for war by private citizens
whose efforts were unsanctoned by the
government WAS done by Patria with
the assistance of Donald Parr and their
staff Of aides.
Despite their most determined eff.
forts to cloud these matters in secrecy,
however the news leaked out. Sharp
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