Middletown transcript., 1918-11-09
REPUBLICANS ASKED
EARLY. THIS YEAR
FOR LARGER ARMY
Democratic Eleventh Hour Con-
version to Need Of Big
Army in France.

washington, II. C.-Thero 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 SO we'll known that it seems al
most incredible there should ever have
been any opposition to this country's
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 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-.
delphia Public Ledger under the date
of March Z, 1918, said:
'This estimate and point of view ar
CUES failure to appreciate the real
duty of the United States in this war.
Our Allies do not expect us to
carry on 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-
lican Convention on March %, 1913,
Col. Roosevelt declared that nothing
except force could and would win the
war. and he urged an army Of 5,OOO,-
600 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 i'm
mediately program of swim the War
Now!"
On March 25, 1918, Gen. Leonard
Wood just returned from France, tes-
tifying before the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs, said that France
and Great Britain were greatly dis
appointed at the slowness of Ameri-
cas- war preparations, and he gave as
his opinion that immediate steps
should be taken to raise an army OF
not less than 100000 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 it they
seek to make the voters believe it is
necessary to continue their control Of
| Congress in order that the Govern
ment may not he embarrassed i'll Its
prosecution Of the war. :. 1t is perfectly
evident, however. to all reading and
| thinking people that the only embar-
rassment suffered by the United States
Government and President Wilson as
| COMMUNICATIVE Chief Of the Army was
that offered by the dilatory tactics
and open opposition of the Democrat
| ic party to effective war measures.