American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-22

and men OF vision saw that only a
miracle could keep America out OF
the conflict.
Il was the part Of craftsmanship to
have entered upon a broad and syste-
matte plan of preparedness immedi-
ately on the outbreak of the war in
August. 1914, and that policy was ear
nestly advocated by the general staff
OF our army, by every military adviser
Of note and responsibility, by the pres
ident's first war secretary, Mr.. Garri-
son, by Roosevelt and scores of other
far seeing men in both great political
parties.
Unfortunately President Wilson's
mind a then controlled By dreamy
p~acifist doctrines, and In his Deem
Der message to congress. four months
after the beginning of the great war,
he lectured the advocates Of prepared
ness. declaring them to be nervous
and excited" and dismissing their APP
peals for defensive action as undeser-
wing Of further consideration.
Then came the shock of the Lusita>
MIA disaster in May, 1915, and the
utterance by the president before a
Philadelphia gathering Of 1000 natu-
rallied Americans chiefly of German
birth or parentage, of these amazing
words:
The example OF America must be
a special example. and must be IN ex-
ample of not merely peace because
it will not fight. y + = There is such
a thing as a man being too proud to
fight. There is such a thing as a ma
ton being so right that it does not
need to convince others by force that
il is right"
These unfortunate sentiments
brought a whirlwind of indignant pro-
test hat startled the president and
prompted him, three days later, to dis
patch a remonstrance to Berlin. The
German government. declared the pres
ident in this diplomatic note to the
kaiser. must not expect him to omit
any word or act necessary to the per-
Torrance of the sacred duty of main
tanning the rights of the United States
and its citizens and of safeguarding
their free exercise and enjoyment"
The president further demanded that
Germany disavow it lawless acts,
make reparation and take immedi-
ate steps to prevent the recurrence of
anything so obviously subversive of
the principles of warfare"
These we're proper and righteous
words. They drew a sharp and dan
gerOus issue between the United States
and Germany. They were a quick and
complete r~ecantation of the presidents
ill-timed u%tterance of three days pre-
ceding.
But they we're only words and Ger
many measured them accordingly.
At that moment, without an hours
further delay, we should have begun
our preparation to give those words
force and meaning.
Mr.. Garrisan grasped the situation.
but he was the only man in the admin
istration to sense it. Two months
prior to the t%orpedoing of the Lusi-
tania he directed the general staff to
make a complete and exhaustive
study of a proper military policy for
the United States" The general staff
replied that a total of 1000, 900 men
should be prepared ia take the field
Immediately on the outbreak of war;,
that if this undertaking should be put
off till the last minute there would
be "wastage, abuse and confusion"
The general staff further urged that
prompt action be taken for equipping
these million trained soldiers with
everything needed for their health
comfort and fighting efficiency. II
told the administration and congress
that the lack of such articles as
shoes, wagons, rifles. saddles, har-
ness, medical chests. etc, will rem
der ineffective an army just as GER.
tainly~ as will the lack of ammuni-
ton"
Secretary Garrison made a heroic
effort to put through this prepared.
ness program, but vas driven out o
the cabinet. and his place filled by the
appointment of the present incum-
bent, a then p~acifist mayor of an OhiC
city.
There is the record. 1t is not {
pleasant one. but it is a record to b'
weighed in connection with Secretar.
Bakers present-hOur statements t
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.