The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1918-08-09
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
aS4fs&assy SS;ssszs5 SSsszs5
America Must Fight Hard or Germany
May Win-Neccssity FOR Mill
tary Training.

Uncle Dan is coming -EOInOFTOW 10
spend week with US on the farm, ana
f you want to know about the war,
here's your opportunity. Uncle Dan IS
probably one of the best-informed men
n the country" Billie clapped his
1ands and gave such whoop that he
wakened the baby, but what could you
expect of a fifteen-year-old boy who is
living interrogation point and wants
% knew about war?
Uncle Dan arrived in due time ana
Billie watched for an opportunity. 1t
came that evening after dinner when
Uncle Dan had lighted q cigar and
.aken a seat on the porch.
"Tm mighty glad you came, Uncle
Dan. l want to talk to you about the
war. IVc have just put military train
ng in our township high school, but
we had hard time to do it. The
Ioneses and the Greggs objected. They
said the war wouldn't come over here.
Grandma Jones said: They amt no
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,
10 the slackers up. He said unless we
take off our coats and go TO it, Ger
many may yet win, and If she does, she
will take over the great British fleet as
4 war trophy ard 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 part
If what he earns; that he could make
he farmers pay rent for their own
farms, etc. Now, Uncle, what do you
think Of that?'
"WeIl, 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-
went US from getting enough food to
tho 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, I
10 not believe the kaiser would have
forced the war upon US. AS it was, he
had no respect for us, and now we are
in it and must go through with it. But
never again must we be caught so
wholly unprepared.
"There is only one safe way" said
lUncle Dan, "and that is to adopt per-
manently universal military training,
| apply it to every young man who is
physically fit, say in his nineteenth or
! twentieth year. The training can be
4 carried forward in the United States
! training camps that are now being es-
tablished for training men called by
the selectiye draft. As soon as these
men vacate these stations, they should
!, Dc uItcu ny JOuliSCI AASA, uu0 ehie
should be made the permanent policy
Of the country"
Billie's mother, LTrs. Graham. had
overheard the conversation. She came
out and said: 'Really, Brother Dan
are you serious as to the dangers Of
our country? II it is as bad as that, il
Is high time for us to wake up and dc
something about it."
Exactly" replied Uncle Dan. 'T
lis better to wake up now than to bt
rudely awakened later. We may a:
well understand, sister, that this is oul
war and we must win it or God he'll
America. Everything that we hav,
or hope to haye-our liberties, oul
blessings, cur opportunities are all in
volved in the great issue before us
Nothing must stand between us anG
winning this war. 1t is a question
& whether the peoples right or the kai
ser's might shall dominate the world
If there ever was holy war, this i
It. We are fighting for world liberty
We are fighting for the freedom o
humanity. We are fighting for tn
fight of men to govern themselves in
stead of being governed against thei
will by war-mad overload. Perilou
lines are ahead of US. We must b
prepared to make any sacrifice, TO per
form any service that may be requires
If u.s."
"oh, Uncle Dam" exclaimed Billie
may I bring my chum, Jimmie Col
ms, when we have our next talk? FL
IS bug on this war business and jus
.razy to see you."
Certainly" said Uncle Dan, with
, hearty laugh. IF we are to have NOR
aIks, shall be glad to have Jimmi
Ioin us"
Billie capped ms hands and ran t
he phone aud told Jimmie to be owe
It seven o'clock the next evening.