The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-11-02
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Number One
America Must Fight Hard or Germany
May Wln-NeeessIty Tor Mill
tary Training.

Nov, Billie" SAID MS motner, your
Uncle Dan Is coming tomorrow to
spend a 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 best-informed men
In the country" Billie clapped his
hands and gave 81 oh a whoop that he
wakened the baby, but what could you
expect Of fifteen year-old boy who Is
a living interrogat' on point and wants
to know about wall
Uncle Dan arrive d In due time and
Billie watched for an opportunity. II
came that evening after dinner when
Uncle Dan had lighted a cigar and
taken seat on IL 2 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 Gil eggs objected. They
said the war wouldn't come over here
Grandma Jones said: 'They amt nc
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 board
do the slackers up. He said unless we
take off our coats and go to 1t, Ger
many may yet win, and If she does, she
will take over the great British feet as
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 a 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 that?"
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 to
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 at once for service,
do not believe the kaiser would have
forced the war upon us. AS 1t 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 SO
wholly unprepared.
There is only one safe way" said
Uncle Dan, land that is to adopt per.
manently universal military training
apply 1t to every young man who Is
physically fit, say in his nineteenth OF
twentieth year. The training can be
carried forward in the United States
training camps that are now being es
tablished for training men called by
the selective draft. AS soon as these
men vacate these stations, they should
be filed by younger men, and this
should 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 1t Is as bad as that, II
Is high time for us to wake up and dc
something about it."
Exactly" 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 helI
America. Everything that we have
or hope to have-our liberties, oul
blessings, our opportunities are all in
volved In the great issue before us
Nothing must stand between us ant
winning this war. 1t Is q question
whether the peoples right or the kai
ser's might shall dominate the world
II there ever was holy war, this 1.
II. We are fighting for world liberty
We are fighting for the freedom Of
humanity. We are fighting for tn,
right Of men to govern themselves in
stead of being governed against theil
will by war-mad overload. Perilou.
times are ahead of us. We must b,
prepared to make any sacrifice, to per
form any service that may be required
of u.s."
ooh, Uncle Dan," exclaimed Billie
"may I bring my chum, Jimmie Col
Inns, when we have our next talk2 III,
is bug on this war business and JUS
crazy to see you"
certainly" said Uncle Dan, with /,
hearty laugh. "If we are to have NOR
talks, shall be glad to have Jimmi
join u.s."
Billie clapped his hands and ran Il
the phone and told Jimmie TO be owe