The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-04-02
TURN ON THE LIGHT.

A rude jolt was handed to the
American people the other day
when Major General Wood, re-
turning from a tour Of inspec-
ton, told the senate committee
Of military affairs that there was
exactly one American aeroplanc
in Europe. General Wood, al
though declared in perfect health,
after new physical examination,
has been shipped back to the
plains of Kansas TO command the
camp at Fort Funston, fine
place of exile for military lead
or of his commanding abilities.
We think that General Wood
has rendered one of the greatest
services Of the war, for which he
deserves better treatment. He has
started something. Senator Over
man, one of the strongest
supporters Of the administra-
ton from the south, arose in the
senate one day last week and ex-
hibited a broken aeroplane
bracket. A German spy, working
in one OF the factories had cut The
steel Of the bracket in two at a
vital point and had filled in the
cut with lead and painted it over.
When the machine was tried out
1t fell to the ground. How many
more instances OF that kind have
occurred, we do not know, but
Senator Oycrman has seen new
light.
why have we not. fighting
machines in France? What has
been done? Why have we not
carried out the schedule in fur
nishing, on April 1, three hundred
Bristol fighting planes that were
called for?" Senator Overman,
pointing to the bracket as pos
sible reason, said the big thing
when he called for pitiless pub
licity.
That is what we want, pitiless
publicity. Let us turn the search
light on things, SO that the Amer
lean people may know what is
wrong. Secretary Baker, the last
week in February, issued a state
ment to the effect that American
alrplanes We're en- route to France
five months ahead of schedule.
We were promised last summer
that 10000 airplanes would be in
flight on the battle front in
France this summer. Six months
ego we heard wonderful stories
about the new Liberty motor and
what it could do. Senator New
before the senate military com
lnittee, OF which he is Il member
stated the other day that instead
OF delivering 1900 comba,
planes in France by July 1. we
will be able to deliver thirty
seven; that there was not single
battle plane in France up tc
March 25. and that the German
planes We're attacking our mel
SO low that the boys are bcatin,
them Off with revolver fire.
Ii General Wood told the truth
II, after one year of war there is
but one American airplane il
France, then most scandalous
condition of affairs exists. |
General Wood lied before III,
committee of military affairs
then he should be colrlmartiaIed
il Senator New, OH the commit
tee, tells the truth, it is time tina
the American people said some
thing. II he lied, it is up to tn.
administration to prove that h,
lied.
Let the people have the truth
The time is past when critics O
the conduct of the war are to b.
denounced by foolish, self-satis
fled people who are burying thei
heads in the sand, saying tina
everything is going all right an
q that the administration must nc
be criticized in war time.
Away with that sort of talk
q The fathers and mothers VIII
hive sent their boys to die in tn
~ &ths 0k the hofdes of Huns ths
sa ssl& .N~x.3 4g4 !. 4