The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-04-08
Congressman in Germany
Sends Warning to
Americans
FORESAW OTHER WARS
In Germany Studying the Situation
AS to Future Military Policy
of United States

COBLENZ, April 8-Representa-
tive julius Kahn of California, chair
man of the house committee on mill
tary affairs, told me in an interview
that he foresaw other wars in the
not too distant future.
He has come to Germany to study
the situation in its relation to the
future military policy of the United
States, and he says his investigation
has convinced him not only that the
peace conference will not smooth out
the affairs of the world to an ever
! lasting level of satisfaction and con-
tentment for every one, but also that
four years and three months OF war
have not cured Europe of fighting.
Because he sees the situation in
this way he is more than ever con-
vinced that America must have and
must retain in effect military ma
chine, not to help preserve peace
among other nations, but to protect
her own interests. He will return to
America to fight for universal train
ing. He favors standing army of
100000 volunteers, with six months
training for every physically fit male,
which program, he says, will give us
at all times an army of practically
100000 which can be swelled at will
by getting men who have been
trained.
/ took breakfast with the congress-
man in his apartment at the Coblez-
erhof. He forgot his bacon and eggs,
and let his griddle cakes get cold
when he got to telling what he
thought of the mix-up the world had
come to.
/ "The allies" he said, fought for
democracy, fought for ideas, fought
unitedly for the right. Wouldn't
you suppose that when they had won
they would be close together?
Wouldn't you suppose they would be
4 side by side, striving to achieve their
high aims? Wouldn't you suppose
they would be disposed to make con-
7 cessions and sacrifices? Yet, there
they are at Paris (and are they striv-
ing, side by side, for anything,) dick
ering and pulling and selfshly work.
ing while time drags on and on.
Every day seems to put us further
from settling the worlds differences
in manner to suit every one.
II am over here particularly to
formulate ideas about our future
army. Because dangers are lurking
ahead l am more than ever convinced
of the wisdom of universal training.
| find the army agrees with me. Give
us standing army of 100000 volun-
teers and train every youth, perhaps
six months, and that will put us
where we can protect ourselves
which we may have to do for we will
not emerge from the Paris conference
beloved of all the world. We might
as well face that fact and be in a
position to make those who do not
love us at least respect u.s."
| asked him what he thought of
Bolshevism in the world situation.
/ 81 have time and again denounced
our |. w. W., which is Bolshevism,"
he replied. 81 believe we should deal
with an iron hand toward the Bolshe-
wiki in America; be absolutely merci-
less. We haven't any great danger
from them because too many Ameri
can workmen own their own homes
4, through their thrift and they are not
going to give them up to loafers. Boil
shevism is an ugly thing which should
be stamped out"
In reply to question as to what
sentiment he found in the army to-
wards prohibition at home he re-
Piled:
81 have found throughout the army,
both among officers and men, sincere
regret that the United States has
gone dry. 1t was not necessary.
see our officers and men drinking light
wines over here, but I see none of
them drunk. They resent Americas s
going dry under the pretence of pro-
tecting them, who have shown in
Europe that they could control their
appetites."
Mr.. Kahn would hazard no guess
as to when the last American soldiers
would quit the Rhine. He indicated
that he regarded September as too
early guess. When he was ready to
start for Cologne his parting words
were:
"There is one message you may
send back for me, if you will, and that
is, the American people should realize
that they by no means are through
with what they undertook when they
entered the war;"