War-Dog Bullard

ARMY & NAVY

A doughty soldier is and has been Major-General Robert Lee Bullard, U. S. A. Retired. The record of his promotions, engagements and exploits as laconically set down in Who's Who occupies 48 lines of fine type. Not forgotten is this item: "Wrote the famous message at the opening of the 2nd Battle of the Marne, July 1918, which marked the turning point of the war, concluding with the words: 'We are going to counter-attack.' " The Bullard valor is concealed beneath a mild, diminutive exterior. Yet the soldierly Bullard conscience might serve as a model for all the retired military, so often and so strongly does it move its possessor to issue grave warnings to all good citizens against the insidious dangers of peace talk and unpreparedness.

The Bullard warnings come, as from most of the retired military, in lectures and speeches which their author is persuaded to make before patriotic meetings or conventions. One came last week, in a Bullard speech at a luncheon of the Hardware, Metals and Allied Trades in Manhattan. With the aid of a map, Major-General Bullard showed quickly how the U. S. might be captured by an invader once New York had fallen, as it must fall if potent defenses are not maintained. Knowing that an oldtime war-dog's growling is often interpreted as senile jingoism, and to give his hardware-headed hearers an indisputably sound reason for wanting to see their country more heavily armed, Major-General Bullard also advanced the following argument for supporting the Cruiser Bill now pending in Congress:

The bill calls for 15 cruisers and an air-craft-carrier, to cost $135,000,000.

This $135,000,000 would all be contributed to the business and prosperity of the whole land."

Of the 48 states, 24 would supply hardware, machinery and metal work for the new ships.

All but one (unnamed) of the remaining states would furnish materials of some kind.

Therefore the Cruiser Bill is of vital economic importance to industry, especially to Hardware, Metals and Allied Trades.