The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-09

Sooner or later an open propaganda
will be made for that part Of the mil
itarzation plan of our imperialists
which aims to establish a naval base
at Block Island lying some twenty
zone miles from our New England Coast
line and in the vicinIty Of which is the
Narraganset Bay capable Of accom-
odating large fleet.
With the attainment of this goal,
American Imperialism will establish
a sort Of a Honolulu of the Atlantic
and will thus become quite invincible
in a defensive war even against a
group of the larger capitalist nations.
Thus fortified, we may expect new,
hitherto unheard Of brutality to mark
the international dealings in which
our Imperialists will be involved.
Strengthened still further, its ambi-
tions will become limitless and the
workers of this country will be called
upon with increased frequency to shed
their blood for the purpose of sub
iugating other workers so as to safe
guard the wealth and power of our
rulers.
The Army and the Maneuvers.
The army authorities, too, will be in
a more favorable position to ask for
more man power and appropriations.
Major General Brown, who is in COM
mand of the land forces in these man
euvers, will be amply assisted in prop
agating for the army. He will recon-
mend do doubt, the strengthening of
the Eastern Garrisons, without at the
same time weakening those further
away from the coast line. He will
speak of the necessity Of more and
longer ranged coast guns and will
yell for great mobi.hy of the entire
land forces so as to make possible
their moving to either coast on short
notice. He will tell the American
people that it is impossible for a few
scattered" soldiers to defend a front
of $50 miles, beginning at Chatham
Cape Code and ending at the mouth of
the Connecticut river.
That these maneuvers, in addition
to war practice, are also aimed at mil
itary propaganda, is further indicated
by the fact that a great number of
correspondents have been gathered to
give publicity to the maneuvers. The
idea being to play up the maneuvers
so as to pave the road for militariza-
ton propaganda. If these maneuvers
were held solely for war practice,
Cwspaper respondents would not
be welcome; because the war depart
ment knows the advisability of keep
ing whatever discoveries are derived
from military maneuvers. While it is
true that press correspondents do not
write about things they are not want
ed to, even trusted correspondents
often blabber. They are not all pro-
hibitionists and when drinks go in,
words come out. The war department
knows this and doesn't take unneces-
sary risks. Therefore, if these man
euvers were conducted only for war
practice the unprecedented staff of
newspaper men would not have been
gathered.
Maneuvers a Threat to Britain.
Some of the features in the conduct
Of the present maneuvers justify the
statement that they constitute the
boldest peace-time threat ever made
by this government to an important
foreign power. This threat is directed
at Britain not to renew her pre-dis-
armament conference alliance with
Japan and to watch her step at the
coming Geneva Naval Conference.
One of the outstanding features dis
tinguishing these maneuvers from
others is the fact that in no time in
the Eeace-history of the country was
make believe attacking force actual
ly named after foreign power The
press is continually referring to the
attacking forces in these maneuvers
as the British Fleet" altho officially
those forces are known as the "black
forces"
The State and War department
must have approved of this terminol-
ogy for the press because the press
eonsuts with the State department
and IS in turn consulted by the de-
partment on publicity relating to such
matters. And the press as rule
echoes the attitude of the State de-
partment, particularly when there is
not a great conflict in the interests of
the press owning groups.
For the workers Of this country
these maneuvers, which are part of
the general plan of INFLAMMATION,
there is lesson; these preparations
mean more wars, more blood shed,
more exploitation and poverty. AT
every step the workers must block
the greedy and bloody road led to by
our imperialists. We must fight
against military expenditures and mil
itarzation Of the country which is
carried on among every strata of the
population, but particularly among
the young workers. The young work.
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