Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-29


Senator New, republican, Of
Indiana, speaking In The senate
today, declared that instead Of
1900 combat aIrpIanes being de-
ilversd In France by July 1, 40
program, the number will amount
TO only thlrty-ssven. r :.
Washington, d. c., March 26.-stir
red by the menAco Of the great Ger
man offensive, the senate spent TO-
days debate almost entirely on sub.
facts connected with the war and
heard Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts,
deliver q denuncistion Of the delays
which have prevented greater forces
from the United States being placed
beside those Of the allies In the
critical hour.
An impassioned plea for speeding
up production especially Of coal, was
made by Senator Thomas Of Colorado
democrat, who attacked the fuel I'D.
ministration's orders reducing prices
for coal which, he said, will cut down
production and result in disaster
FATE IN BALANCE
Compulsory military training was
advocated by Senator Lodge Of Massa.
chusetts. He characterized the situa-
ton now confronting this country %
terrible" and urged that the Amer
ican people be told the truth.
THE fate Of this war is trembling
IN the balance" Senator Lodge de-
clared. "Our gallant allies are hold.
Ing back the Germans with sacrifice
and courage that goes past eulogy. In
this dark hour 1t is crime to keep
from the people facts that Germany
herself knows.'
u. 3. LACKS PLANES
''lt has been known for weeks, y
Senator Lodge declared, that we
have no fighting planes in France.
Our front IL unattended in the air.
French and British have use for every
plane they can bring up and our men
are not defended. We've got no guns
{ In France except few old coast guns
That's the hard fact.
r"Six months were wasted while we
we're trying to Improve the French IS
nillimeter gun, the best gun in the
world And now We have no guns and
Six golden months wasted.
ONLY TWO SHIPS BUILT
1--WE have turned out only two
American ships, although the country
has been led to believe there were
thirty-six ships. Some Of these were
ships obtained BY foreign countries
and completed by the shipping board,
which has been in existence since
September. 1916. Let the American
people know the truth; whether good
or bad. Then we will have grim de-
termination and a setting Of teeth.
The world looked to us year ago to
come to the rescue OF the situation.
n the situation Is to be saved 1t will
only be by the resources and man
power OF the United States.
HITCHCOCK CITES AIR DELAY
1--WE may be lighting before very
long for our very existence as an In
dependent nation.
II have held my peace long time"
Senator Lodge added. But the day
Il gone by to hold my peace. The sit
uation is we'll known to every senator
and to the members Of the military
committee.
"As an individual, as an American
citizen" concluded Senator Lodge. II
want the American people to know
what the situation ID, so that they
may rise up to meet It,"
Senator Hitchcock Of Nebraska,
democrat, said airplane manufacturers
were overoptimistic at first and as .
result planes wore gradually reduced
90 that the number that Will have been
produced by July is only about one
tenth Of the number originally
planned.
COMBAT PLANS ABANDONED?
Senator Hitchcock said he did not
feel ct liberty to reveal the number
now produced. but declared 1t ridicu-
ulously small"
The Liberty motor, he added, might
only be used in bombing planes, but
he declared 1t was not fair to say that
America had abandoned the produc-
ton of combat planes. France. no
said, has reached a limit. and cannot
deliver any combat planes to tho
American army.
Senator Poindexter of Washington
declared he knew the aircraft produc-
>tion board had abandoned plans for
fighting planes.
"PEoPLE ARE MlsLEAD"
II agree that this Is not the time to
discourage the American people," said
Senator New, discussing the airplane
situate ion, "but this is no more the
time to mtslead the American people.
in view OF the great task that il ahead
Of US"
Senator New called attention to a
statement accredited 10 Secretary
Baker on February q, quoting him as
saying the first American airplanes
were being sent to Europe five months
ahead Of schedule and praising the
progress on the Liberty motor.
II submit that statement ia
wholly misleading and perilously 80.
said he. 1.-The people are entitled to
know the truth. II we can't tell them
the truth, let's not feed them on state.
ments of that kind II we are to win
this war"
SENATORS DEMAND FACTS
Have we one single atrplane In
1nroN 1Sdv or N engine that can
i.r -