The Washington herald., 1918-03-26
new WARNSSENATORS
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toward preparation for war rather
than to issue pronouncements of
terms on which We would make peace
we would now be much nearer the
day when our voice 40 to terms would
command and receive more attention.
But objection, sentiment. hesitancy
combined to prevent anything that
even approximated preparation with
result that is now apparent-appal-
lingIy so. 1t is time the people should
know the truth. If they are to be
told anything they should be told the
facts. and not half truths.
within the last few days I have
seen statements given out in high
places, for which the best that can be
said is that they are perilously mis-
leading. Anything that tends to keep
the people from a realization of the
truth is in my opinion a huge mis-
take.
Il have unlimited faith in our ca
pacity as a nation il we but know
our true condition, are not made over
confident through failure to realize it.
and il we but know the extent and
character of the task before us.
at is true that during the last year
great things have been accomplished.
1t is true that we have built great
docks in France, miles upon miles of
them; that we have built a great rail-
road system over there; that We have
built a great system of cantonments
at home and have recruited an army
Of 100000 men; that We have trebled
our navy: that We are preparing-still
preparing-a great equipment of aero
planes; that we have adopted a ma
chine gun which we believe superior
to any yet devised and which we are
now ready to produce in quantities:
that We have built great shipyards
and are now more or less ready to
build ships, and that we have done
and are doing many other things
What Germany Has Done.
But while this has been going
on, Germany has subjugated at
least temporarily, at least half a
continent.
only a few days ago the junior
Senator from New Hampshire said
that one could not rig a ship during
storm. That is exactly what we
have waited to do. The Junior Sem
ator from Arkansas told the Sem
ate the other day that before the
end is reached the United States
will have an army of 10000, 900 men
in the field.
Il don't see how the Senate can
hold such an opinion and vote
against this amendment. To those
who thought that statement extreme
l would say that the situation to-
day will not justify anyone hold
ing it to be a wild prediction, and
If not, from what source are these
men to be drawn?
Does anyone think we can win
with the force we now have?
There are some who contend
that it is useless to provide such
an army at this time for the reason
that we have not the ships to
transport them.
We'll, I have known men who
might be classed as fairly conser-
vative who have INDUCED a more
violent assumption than that we
may need our army at home in the
future. As to that it seems not un-
likely that much depends on the
strength Of our present allies.
But If we have to pursue our
usual course and take it for granted
that we are immune from attack, it
is still true that it requires as much
time to make a soldier as it does
to build a ship.
We are now. launched = upon a
program to build a fleet of our own.
Are We to run true to recent form
and wait until we have the trans
ports before starting on the year
long process of making the soldiers?
Why not build both at the same
timer" .. --. ~.
Z Thomas Fears Expense.
Senator Thomas, of Colorado. said
ae believed in such a system, but
feared its adoption at this time be-
cause of the expense, lack. of train
ing officers, and so forth.
The Senator from Indiana does
not contend that wa need -Ynore man