Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-01-13
NOT WASTE. BUT ECONOMY
(Mille Laos County Times.)

Editor Petersen, of the Askov
American thinks that the expendi-
lures to maintain a national guard
in this country is money wasted that
could be put to better use. If the
United States is ready to dismantle
its navy, muster out it's army, and
discontinue all defensive measures,
then this might be true. A big saw
ing could be made by dispensing with
all military training. That is the ar
gument of the pacifist who thinks
that unpreparedness is a guarantee
of peace.
But world conditions do not indi-
cate that the time has arrived when
the United States can safely turn it's
swords into pillow shares and allow the
birds to nest in the muzzles of the
cannon. Most European countries
have bigger armies and navies than
ever before, and are maintaining an
armed truce Most of them hate the
United States, and would seek our
humiliation if they deemed it posi-
BILE. In addition there are nearly a
billion Asiatics who are seeking an
outlet for their crowded and excess
populations that will eventually en-
deavor to gain control of the earth.
War films are now being shown in
the theatres in Germany ending with
the statement. 1--WE lost this time
but will win the next time" All this
does not look like prospect for
peace and tranquility in the world.
If this country is to have any de-
gree of preparedness for the eventu-
alities of war, the national guard,
our trained citizen soldiery, is the
| best and cheapest plan for making
large force available at the mini
mum of COST To maintain force
of regulars equal to the national
guard would cost more in one month
than it costs to maintain the nation
al guard year. The national guard
soldier does not cost anything except
when he is training and drilling, and
then only few cents to pay him for
the time expended. The equipment
supplied is absolutely necessary ii
the units are to be trained and main
| tanned, and would only be lying in
government storehouses if not in the
| hands of the national guard. If the
| United States would cease defensive
measures the factories for making
| military materials would soon cease
to exist and if ever the time for their
| need should come, they would have
to be established all over again, and
the country would be at the mercy OF
| it's enemies in the meantime.
There is nothing that would be
more pleasing to the enemies of the
United States abroad,-and unfortu-
nately we have them in plenty,-than
to have this nation become a soft
easy going, cowardly and defenseless
nation, with it's land and wealth ex-
posed to those who would have the
power to come and take it. There is
no insurance against war, against
| aggression by our enemies, and tc
place ourselves in helpless and de,
fenseless condition while all the rest
of the world is watching for an OPP
portunity to strike would be the
height of folly. No nation in history
that neglected it's arm of defense
ever survived very long. We Woulo
advise Editor Petersen to join the
national guard and get an inside view
of it. This might cause him to modi'
fly some of his opinions about the use
lessness of having such an organiza'
ton.