The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-07-18

The United States. the Largest and
Wealthiest Nation On Earth, Fac
ing A War, Finds Itself Totally
Unprepared For Such An Eventu-
atty
To the Editor of The Republican.
Recent unprecedented "blitz" devel-
opments in Europa Europe that IS
obviously destined ultimately to be
completely inundated at the hands Of
Adolf Hitler and his axis partner
"Scavenger" Mussolini-have awaken
ed the world and particularly the
United States, that our preparedness
program has perhaps been launched
a half decade or more too late.
Hitler began building his "victory
units" in 1888. 1t took us until 1910
to comprehend the significance of
mechanical might and to become self
conscious with regard to our own sys-
tenn of defense.
Our army at present, including the
full strength of the National Guard,
strength of the Netherlands at the
time of Nazi invasion, which lasted APP
proXimately four days against the
German war machine, which has
amazed the world. 1t consisted of
twelve mechanical land divisions COM
pared with Frances three. England
has none; the United States one
Henry Ford has said that he can
produce 1000 planes per day, yet when
the men in France said, For Gods
sake, give us more planes!" we did
little about it and seasoned war com
mentators and eX-military service men
openly admitted that we could not
send planes to France in any "worth
mentioning" quantity because we did
not have them and we could not mus
ter the capacity for large-scale pro-
duction without lot of preliminary
red tape and fussy preparation.
Now, after nine demonstrations
Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Den
mark, Norway, Luxembourg, Holland,
Belgium and France-of successful
conquest, we have been aroused from
our state of lethargy.
What has been the cause of all these
consecutive wins for Germany? Ger
tainly not military might and STRAIT
egg alone.
Hitler, in 1888, boosted that the
new Germany in the future would have
helpers within the boundaries of coun-
tries with whom Germany might have
differences, who would aid in a manner
secondary only to the power and ac-
tivity of land, sea and air forces. How
well his boast has materialized!
Fifth columnists unquestionably
played a leading and decisive role in
the capitulation of all nine countries.
Fake telephone calls, phoony tele-
grams, feigned apprehension among
civilians too stimulate evacuation of
key cities, thereby lessening resist
ance to invading troops by creating a
false feeling Of imminent danger in a
general manner, by using small, portal
bic radio transmitters from remote
positions to keep officers leading in
vading troops informed regarding all
plans and disclosing military secrets
relative to troop concentration and po-
sition of enemy equipment, by doing
what damage they can to commune
>cation and TRANSFORMATIONS facilities
which might help the beleaguered
ones, are only few ways in which
the deadly fifth columnists function.
With the United States putting
forth super efforts deluxe to circum-
NCHI SNlII anu astounding events over
seas, let our leaders who are laying
the initial cornerstone of our belated
defense program be very careful that
they do not "fence-in" a half-dozen
or so of subservive tricksters who
will attack our ring of defense from
within while their brother "rats" be-
gin gnawing from without.
Fifth columnists, trained and pol
ished alley sneaks, are admittedly
difficult to detect. If we allow these es-
pionage and sabotage daredevils room
to sit down in the United States our
$4,000, 100000, which will be raised
through unequalled taxation, will have
been spent in vain.
To fight from within and without
simultaneously is a futile and pathet
&c gesture, proven nine times in sue
cession by the nefarious Nazis.
WILBERT N. SAVAGE.
Sang Run, Md, July II, 1910.