The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-12-30

| WaShlngtOn.-The hySterla or war
is in the air. It has been increasing
49, in tempo and il
war may throw us out
Hysterio of our sense Of
equilibrium as a
nation unless we watch our step. II
is, indeed, a time for all people to
keep their sense of direction and to
avoid unnecessary and dangerous
acts of an inflammatory character.
The sinking of the American gun
boat, Panay, by the japanese in the
Yangtse river of China apparently
has set fire to finder because there
have been outbursts of all sorts
since that inexcusable incident Of
early December. There can be ex-
cuse or apology by the japanese on
end, but neither excuse nor apology
will satisfy most Americans. They
feel properly that Japan is trying
to rub our collective noses into the
ground and nearly every person
wants to do something about thing
of that kind. On the other hand, /
am convinced that the answer lies
in another direction; it is to be
found, I believe, in exacting a prom
Use from the japanese that they will
cut out those tactics. If their prom
Uses mean anything, it will be better
to accept them and hope that we
may not be confronted with another
such incident.
In any event, there is plenty Of
evidence that the majority of the
American people desire to avoid
war. They will continue to cherish
peace unless elements in our ma
ton lead us in another direction by
use of war propaganda. include
in those elements the government
itself. / do so because the govern
ment, by use of propaganda, can
come pretty close to leading the ma
ton by the nose if it so desires. 1t
can build up sentiment against the
Japanese until there is white heat
and a demand for vengeance.
believe President Roosevelt is try
ing to avoid war at this juncture.
There is a basis for this belief in
the fact that the Department of
State has withheld some of the facts
about the Panay sinking. These
facts, as rumored, are Of charac-
ter that easily could fan flames OF
added hatred. On this basis, it APP
pears at least that Mr.. Roosevelt
is seeking to avoid ill-considered
conclusions by the nation.
But as was said by an earlier
President: the time to prepare for
war is while the nation is at peace.
That is to say, the nation must have
its defenses solid, substantial; it
must take nothing for granted in a
world that is fraught with unrest
and uncertainty. racked by suspi-
cion, permeated to the very core
with chicanery and scheming Of al
legged statesmen. The smallest boy
will not Jump on another who
will hit him on the chin If the attack
is unjustified. That is human ma
ture, and human nature is about
the same over the whole world.
A year ago Iwrote something in
these columns in support Of the
Presidents program for building up
the army, navy and air corps. 1t
seemed then to be wise. It is GER
tainly shown now to have been
the proper course. Our nation is
at least partially ready to strike
back and the progress thus made
has been accomplished without the
waste that characterized our move
ments in 1917. :
Noting that I said partially
ready" I want to call attention here
to one way in which we are not
ready, condition in which we are
quite vulnerable. We have great
army structure on paper. From il,
the army can be expanded rapidly
and successfully. The air corps
can be developed quickly. The navy
is being built up. The whole pro-
gram is one of defense.
In taking stock Of the situation.
however, one must give considera.
ton to replace
Guns ments. "You can
and Men have all of the
men and all Of the
ships needed, but If the guns they
use can not be replaced when they
are worn out. what good are they?
I do not mean that we have no re-
serve. We have a reserve, but war
takes its toll of guns as well as men.
Guns are made of steel Steel is
made of manganese, as well as iron.
Manganese puts the starch in steel.
hardens it SO that it is disable for
y