Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1920 — VIEWS OF A FORMER U. S. SERVICE MAN [ARTICLE]

VIEWS OF A FORMER U. S. SERVICE MAN

Brands G. O. P. Statements Regarding Air Service as False. Many letters from former service men and others on the league of nations and other matters connected with the campaign are appearing daily in the Indianapolis Republican papers, the News and the Star, and it is noticeable that about 95 per cent of the writers are strongly for the league and brand the charges of the senatorial cabal as absolutely false. Here is one on Senator Watson’s platform charge that no Americanbuilt airplanes ever reached the front during the recent unpleasantness, and which shows up the campaign of falsehood of the opposition: Views of a Former Service Man To the Editor: Sir —I was very much interested in a letter published in the News from Donald King. This letter expressed my feeling in the matter exactly, and since that time I have talked With a large number of exservice men and was disagreeably surprised to find quite a few who said that they were against the league of nations. It is for this reason that I am writing you. For years I have voted the Republican ticket, but this fall I deem it of paramount importance to swing over strong to the league of nations and all it stands for. The campaign of misrepresentation

which is now actively being prosecuted is producing results for the Republican nominee and it is therefore up to us to think for ourselves and not permit our minds to be empty pitchers into which might be poured the thoughts and ideas of those who are paid to put them there. The propaganda of piffle and mawkish sentimentalism is in full sway. The other night in Terre Haute I heard one Mr. Scott, a Californian and confrere of Hiram Johnson, deliver a most eloquent speech against the league. Mr. Scott dwelt at length on the subject of sending our “red-blooded boys over there to fight over an imaginary European boundary line,” .and asked the mothers if they cared to have their children torn from their breasts to fight Johnny Bull’s battles during the long years td come. It is deplorable, but a good many people eat this kind of an appeal to the emotions. In Bloomington Senator Watson, while making a speech attacking the league and the conduct of the war by the administration, made the statement that “although we had expended a billion dollars on the air service during the war, not one American built plane ever got up to the front before the armistice.” There is not the shadow of truth in this statement. I served 14 months as an aerial observer in France, being assigned for active duty to the 85th squadron on the front. We were stationed at Toul. The 85th was certainly “up there.” and as was a Liberty corps observation squadron. Every plane was built in the United States. The first flight over the lines in American built planes was back on Aug. 12. This was done by the 135th squadron, which subsequently made 1,100 sorties over the lines, took innumerable photographs, lost five planes in combat and accounted for 11 Huns. Pretty tangible for phantom ships, wasn’t it? At the signing of the armistice nearly all the bombing squadrons and about half the observation squadrons were American built, Liberty engined, airplanes. In percentages we supplied 26 per cent of airplanes on the front and the French 74 per cent. It is true that all the chasse planes used by our boys on the front were either Spads, S. E. 5s and Camels. This is a very different matter from the observation and bombing branches of the air service. To get back to the big issue of the moment, let’s not quit before we have finished a good job. I feel that we are adding and abetting Germany in the most effective manner possible by this weak-kneed provincialism some of us are indulging in. It’s a sure bet she is saying, “America has quit the allies, we can, therefore, welch with Impunity on our obligations imposed upon us at Versailles/’ By the eternal, we won a great victory. Are we going to allow ourselves to be lead astray by false prophets ? • Show ’em, boys. Let’s go! STEPHEN D. DAY, Captain R. O. F. A. Formerly first lieutenant,, aerial observer, 85th squadron, Toul, France.