Milford chronicle., 1918-11-01
REPUBLICANS ASKED
EARLY THIS YEAR
FOR LARGER ARMY
Democratic Eleventh Hour Con-
version to Need of Big
Army in France.

Washington, d. C.-There IS no long
er any doubt in the minds Of any one
that Bulgaria's dropping out OF the
war, Turkeys being crushed as mill
tary factor and Germany's being beat
en- back from the soil of France and
Flanders Is due to the tremendous con-
tributiOn Of man power the United
States has made to the Allied cause
during the past few months. This is
now sc well known that it seems al
most Incredible there should ever have
been any opposition to this country
raising a tremendous army.
Yet only nine months ago the Demo
cratic leaders at Washington were op-
posing any increase in the military
man power Of this country. At the
same time the Republican leaders of
the country were insisting upon send
ing gigantic armies to France.
Republican Foresight.
At a time when Democratic leaders
were insisting that 100000 men would
be the maximum contribution Of Amer
lea to the Allied cause former Presi-
dent w. H. Taft. writing in the Phila-
delphla Public Ledger under the date
of March Z. 1918, said:
"This estimate and point OF view ar
CUES a failure to appreciate the real
duty OF the United States in this war.
Our Allies do not expect us to
carry on a joint debate with the Aus
trian and German ChancellOries. =" .
We should raise an army of not less
than 100000 men. The quick
er we act in this view. the speedier and
more certain our victory. The draft
act must be amended to carry out such
preparations"
Addressing the Maine State Repub-
llcan Convention on March %, 1918,
Col. Roosevelt declared that nothing
except force could and would win the
war, and he urged an army Of 5,OOO,-
900 men be raised with all possible
speed to furnish this force.
Before and after these dates Chair
man Hays Of the Republican National
Committee in many public addresses
urged the passage OF all constructive
measures necessary to put through Inn
mediately a program Of "Win the War
Now g.
On March 25, 1918, Gen. Leonard
Wood. just returned from France, tes-
tlfying before the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs, said that France
and Great Britain we're greatly dis
appointed at the slOwness Of Amerl-
ca 8 war preparations, and he gave as
his opinion that immediate steps
should be taken TO raise an army Of
not less than 5,OOO,OOO men. His re-
ward for uttering this basic military
truth, which Is now recognized univer-
sally, was to be refused permission to
accompany his soldiers to France.
Eleventh Hour Conversion.
The insistent warnings Of Republic
an leaders at that time, however, prov
ed unavailing. The Democratic lead
ers of Congress refused to make any
amendment to the COnscriptiOn Act
providing for increased drafts. Even
the Democratic leaders, however, now
admit that we must have an army OF
at least 100000 men in France, and
because they have come around to this
view point after nearly a years criti-
cism of it and opposition to 1t they
seek to make the voters believe 1t is
to continue their control Of
Congress in order that the Govern
ment may not be embarrassed in its
Of the war 1t is perfectly
evident, however, to all reading and
thinking DaODlp that thp only ambQr-
rassment suffered by the United States
and President Wilson as
Of the Army was
that offered by the dilatOry tactics
and open opposition Of the Democrat
lc party to effective war measures.