Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1914 — SEES U. S. PERILED IF WAR STARTS; DEMANDS INQUIRY [ARTICLE]

SEES U. S. PERILED IF WAR STARTS; DEMANDS INQUIRY

Rep. Gardner Says Nation Is Unprepared. WANTS TO ENLIGHTEN PUBLIC Declares Investigation of Conditions In Army, That Are Being Con- —— cealed, Will Open Eyes' of Americans. Washington, Oct. 16.—Inquiry into the preparedness of the United States for war, "offensive or defensive,” by a national eecurity commission was proposed in a joint resolution introduced in the house by Representative Gardner of Massachusetts, who recently returned from the war zone in Europe. “I have Introduced this resolution to Investigate the military status of the United States,” said Mr. Gardner in a statement accompanying the resolution, "because I know that a public search will open the eyes of Americans to a situation which Is being concealed from them. The United States Is totally unprepared for a war, defensive or offensive, against a real power. In my opinion the effect of the vast sums of money spent by Carnegie In his peace propaganda has been to blind Americans to the fact that our national security from a military point of view is undermined. Confirmed by Army Officers. "Nearly every army and navy officer to whom I have spoken tells me the same story of Inadequate security. I have yet to epeak to a single member either committee on naval affairs or the committee on military affairs of the house of representatives in whose judgment I have confidence who does not in private make the same admission. Yet all these gentlemen seem to consider it their duty to refrain from any public statement.” Bombast Will Not Stop Bullets. “The time has not yet come,” he asserted, "when the United States can afford to be destroyed and all the Carnegie millions In the world will not silence those of us who believe that bullets cannot be stopped with, bombast, nor powder vanquished by plitltudes.” Mr. Gardner further said in his statement that In respect to the present European war, concerning which he had some personal Insight, having been in the zone of conflict, his views were "not those of a neutral.” Calls German Cause Unholy. "I am entirely convinced," he said, ‘"that the German cause Is unholy, and, moreover, a menace to the principles of democracy. Furthermore. I believe that the God of battles will visit defeat upon the Germane; but, no matter which side wins, we must remember that since the beginning of time victorious nations have proved headstrong and high-handed. We must begin at once to reorganize our military strength if we expect to be able to resist high-handed cases when the day of necessity comes."