Milford chronicle., 1923-08-31
o. s. ARMY PEACE SERVICE
"BEST IN THE WORLD"

In the United States more than in
any other country the military forces
are made of practical use in time of
peace as well as an effective agency
for protection in time of war. This is
not newly adopted policy; it has
been our policy from the beginning.
It may not be commonly known but
it is fact, as recently pointed out by
Secretary of War Weeks, that the
United States Army had charge of con-
struction of tho Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal, the Erie Canal, and, in more
recent times, the Panama Canal. The
first two were entirely peace enter
prises. Although the Panama Canal
was constructed as a military under
taking in order to facilitate passage
of battleships from coast to coast,
yet greater purpose was the shorten
ing the route for merchant vessels.
Our War Department took the lead
in construction and operation of tele-
graph lines as it has taken the lead
in construction and operation Of sys-
TENS of radio communication. AL
though these activities were essential
to the military service they have been
rendered of value to the commercial
and social needs of the country. The
War Department has had charge Of
improvement of rivers and harbors,
ostensibly as a military undertaking,
but in reality for promotion of trans
pOrtation. In many other particulars
the War Department has served the
country in time of peace. 1t has a
standing system of regulations under
which in case of any great calamity
such as earthquake, flood or disas-
trous fire, all of the personnel and
material in the affected districts shall
be Immediately devoted to relief Of
suffering. On numerous occasions the
value of this service has been illus
trated andO relief has been afforded
when it could not have been otherwise
secured.
Through its health service the War
Department cleared Havana of yellow
fever which had ravaged it for $50
years, and redeemed the people of
Porto Rico from the hookWorm plague.
The Panama Canal Zone was trans
formed from a zone of disease to a |
health resort. Following the Great |
War, in which our Chemical Warfare |
Service had its chief development, the |
War Department turned it's attention |
to protection of miners and has pro- |
duced the only substance suitable for |
their protection against the deadly |
carbon mOnoXide.
The Weather Bureau was created |
and developed by the Signal Corps |
which still co-operates with that Bur-
eau. The Air Service is cooperating
with the Agriculture Department in
determination of the boil weevil, the
experiments in spraying fruit trees
from the air, and in warfare against
other agricultural pests. The Air Ser
vice aids in protection of forests from
fire and has recently rendered valu-
able service in sowing tree seeds over
large areas now barren, which work
could not be undertaken in any other
way without months of tedious work
and huge expense. The War Depart
ment has in time of peace turned over
to the Bureau of Public Roads large
quantities of tools, vehicles, and sup
plies for road construction and i'm
has aided in establish
ment of high standards in breeding
both riding and draft horses, and has
led the way in the development Of the
most practical types of tractors for
heavy duty over open ground as well
as on roads.
In other countries military forces
render service to their peoples in time
Of peace in some of the particulars
mentioned above, but in no country is
the Army rendered of use in so many
ways as in the United States.
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