The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-02-17
RECENT HISTORY

The peace treaty PROVIDED tnat Ger-
many might, during period not extend
ing beyond October 1, 1919, maintain
not more than one hundred seaplanes
to be used by them exclusively in de-
stroying the submarine mines which
they had planted during the war. All
other aircraft, completed or uncomplet-
ed, with all equipment and armament
was to be turned over to "the Govern
rnent of the Allied and Associated Pow
ers.' 1t was evidently the intention of
the Allies to deprive Germany of every
vestige of air power which she possessed.
Whether Germany has fully complied
with the above requirements we do not
know but it is known that of airplanes
she has been stripped pretty nearly to
the skin. France and Italy got some of
aer air craft and material but England
took the lions share while none was al
lotted to the United States.
Our Postoffice Department, however,
has bought eight of these German ma
chimes, and paid slO5, 900 for them.
Three were bought by our War Depart
znent for 100000 and three were bought
by our Navy Department for a like sum.
During the war we spent more than a
billion dollars or the construction of air
planes. Our war lossesof these machines
were small because very few of them
ba
therefore, that we shou; d have been able
TO rustic together IA airplanes without
paying an agent of our Allies $500, 600
from the Treasury for these German ma
chimes. Three of the planes bought by
Mr.. Burleson's department were burned
while carrying mail and, the pilots lost
Gheir lives. When the parcels post and
rural delivery were established it was
-1one by act of Congress and means for
paying the cost of each were provided.
Mr.. Burleson had no authority for carry
pE mail in airplanes and no appropria-
ti0n was made for that purpose
II was economy and common sense
which decided Congress, about a year
ago, to reduce our standing army to IT'S, =
900 men and an appropriation was made
for the support of an army of that size
during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1921. There was not even remote dan
ger of invasion. There was no European
country that desired or dared to attack
Us, Some people have thought that
Japan had hostile intentions, but with a
population of As 100000, living on the
other side of the world, with navy in
10 way comparable in strength with ours,
Japan will not cross the Pacific ocean to
undertake war against 107, coo, 600 people.
She has neither the money, the men nor
4he navy to make victory possible and
she knows it. Instead of recognizing
these facts and complying with the evil
dent purpose of Congress, the Secretary
Of War actively continued recruiting till
he had an army of 220, COO men and on
sETess faced an army deficit of some thirty
million dollars. A resolution was adopt
ed ordering that recruiting should cease
until, by reason of discharges, the army
should consist of 5000. President
Wilson vetoed the resolution and the
House by vote of 271 to l6 and the Sen
ate by a vote of 81 to vetoed the veto
In times of peace the expenditure of pub
Tic funds, without proper authority and.
often without any authority whatever
should not be tolerated by Congress or