McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1919-05-16
New York Letter.

We have had the greatest show Of
war vessels ever seen in these waters.
Over one hundred ships, ranging from
the immense eadnaughts down
to the smallest torpedo boat destroy
ers, have been anchored in the Hud-
son river, making line Of the finest
fighting machinery of the nation, ex-
tending for perhaps ten miles up the
stream. The silent, steel-gray mon
sters lay there bristling fore and aft
with their guns, and If they had cho-
sen to do 80, could have laid this vast
city in waste in a very short time.
Every shot from those long steel bar
rels would have cut lane through
the towering apartment houses which
looking like granite and marble cliffs
line beautiful Riverside Drive for
miles. The promenade along that fa-
nous thoroughfare was thronged with
hundreds Of thousands of people, es-
pecially at night. when the play Of
searchlights from the ships was a
truly magnificent spectacle. The
display began at eight o'clock in the
evening and lasted an hour and a half
during which the gigantic beams Of
light shot outward and upward from
the biggest vessels, ten or twelve Of
them performing at a time. Broad
bands Of steel-blue and white light
crossed and criss-crossed with each
other, reaching across the highest
houses northwards as far as the eye
could reach, and making spats Of
white light on the clouds they en-
countered above. The silent storm
of light played up and down the river
on the sky and shore till was be-
wildering to look at. Now and then
there would be a twinkling Of green
ish; white light at irregular intervals
showing from the dark mass of the
ship, to be answered by similar twin
kles and signals away down the line;
this was the wireless working, send
ling messages.
/ The quiet majesty, the resistless
might, Of these warships. the right
arm Of our national defense how it
thrills one to see such sight! This
Iis the highest form Of physical force
devised by man. and no doubt it marks
| the last stage Of war preparation.
Even now in far away France, a still
|miqhtier moral power, directed by
four honored President, is working, to
make these very fighting vessels un-
necessary, and plans for a merchant
marine that will absorb our energy
and bring the worlds trade to our
Idoor are being perfected. II the
League Of Nations can be made liv.
ling and working institution. The
youngest child among US may die Of
old age before another war vexes .
q weary world. AT least, let Us Eope
80. Selfishn.ss and jealousy will re-
main to Q great extent, but soon ma
ltions will no longer think Of starting
war against each other than Tenn.
esses would think Of beginning hostil
Titles against her sister State Of Ken.
lucky or Arkansas. Wars are costly
1t will take Germany hundred year,
to get over her spree Of four year.
lin France, and our share in 1t win b
Ifelt by us for a number Of years u
come. although it will eventually
prove 70 have been our making as |
|full-fedCed world.nation.
! was proud to-day to receive ,
visit from DR.. G. w. Kernodle o.
Washington, D. c.. who has launched
my long-cherished plan Of nations
and international. permanent exposi
tion and clearing house for the com'
merce Of the world at Washington
Without being immodest / must sa.
that he is following plans laid dowr
by your correspondent several year,
ago, which have been approved BY
big business men all over the Nation
DR.. Kernodle (who Is originally from
Almance Co.. North Carolina. wher,
|my grandparents came from. and Il
doubtless related to the well-knowl
Kernodle family Of McNairy county
Is having encouragement from higl
sources in this plan. and some Of u
may live to see it perfected and il
operation. Standing exhibition build
ings for each stat5 and most Of th
nations Of the world. including build
ings representing South America con
tanning greenhouses with bearing tlee
NJ cofToo chaco1ato xnhhor atc -