The Dolores star., 1918-02-15

Al Iaasuefae Lstss issm canp Fu.sas..
January q, ISIS.
Dear Editor:
Having read President Wilson's
psaes plan in the issus Of January Is,
Of your paper. ! thought perhaps II
might b Of interest 70 The Star rsad-
ess to know what some Of the boys
who ars with The eo,ors, think about
the war situation in general, and the
possibilities Of Peace. OF course ]
have discussed the war question with
many young men from different states
since I have been here and in general
way our views were somewhat the
same. and In expressing my own views
in this little article I think may safely
assert that am outlining the attitude
Of many Of the boys in Uncle Sans
National Army stationed here at Camp
Funston.
In the first place let me say that the
Sammies idea Of what the war meant
not only to Us "America. +" but to the
whole world, has changed whole lot
since he changed his overalls and grub
hoe, or shovel. for Army uniform and
gun. ''Your in the army now and
not behind plow," is often heard here
10 naturally he thinks more about the
war. its cause, the methods employed
by both sides, and what the results
would have meant to humanity II
America had not stepped in when she
did.
The direct cause Of the war does not
concern US, "Americans" 90 much as
the unscrupulous methods which the
Germans have employed in carrying it
on. However. there is no doubt in my
mind that at the beginning the Kaiser's s
intentions were to conquer all Europe.
His boast that he would dictate"
terms Of Peace in Paris, proves that
he had q collosal confidence in his
power. And I firmly believe that if
America had not come to the aid Of the
Allies with money, ammunition, and
other supplies his. fendish purpose
would have been accomplished. In
that case is it not altogether probable
that his next field Of conquest would
have been America? America with
her vast wealth and resources would
have been . wonderfully tempting
prize to the eyes Of that ambitious
Power idolizer. And while I know that
every American in the United States
would be more than willing to help
defend his country in case of an invas-
ion, it has also been proven that Amer
ica's sons, rs brave men, are second to
none. Yet when think of the unpre-
pared condition. Of the nation q year
ago. and knowing as do now how
much time it takes to prepare great
number Of unframed men to make
them efficient factors in modern war
fare, and the vast amount of supplies
and military equipment necessary to
equip them for actual service. I am
far from confident that we would
have been able to successfully defend
ourselves in case of an invasion
Of great, well organized and well
trained force. Even If we could have
done SO the loss of American lives
would probably have been far greater
than 1t will be in this war. For well
trained army is efficient in ways and
means Of defense and protection as in
methods employed in an aggressive
fight. As it is we can take time to
train our armies here without being
molested, while in the other case we
would not have had time to train,
neither would we have had as good an
opportunity to take care of the pro-
Germans and spies as we have had and
the amount Of damage they could have
done would have been far greater.
It appears to me that every Ameri-
can citizen should be glad that America
has Evoke up"
OF course in drawing conclusions as
to what might have happened there is
always chance that conditions would
not have been as bad as probabilities"
suggest. Yet think that the general
outlook is sufficiently alarming to set
US thinking some. It's q cinch we
don't want young America singing
''Die Wacht an Rhien,.. instead of the
Star Spangled Banner"
When we come to consider the
methods employed by the Germans in
this war then indeed not only America
but the entire civilized world has just
cause to join in helping to overcome
power that has disregarded interna-
tional law, and shamelessly ignored all
rules of civilized warfare.
Never before has any nation which
had remote claim to the title .'civil-