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Show Why Not Give Us a Chance. There has been more or less discussion recently about the vulnerable condition of our eastern east-ern coast and the paralyzing effect ef-fect should an invading force be able to occupy approximately one hundred miles in land from Boston to Baltimore. This, it is stated would give an enemy control con-trol of all efficient facilities lor producing war munitions. If this be true, and it seems to be, it would be well to add to the increased in-creased defense of that section a better and safer source of supply, sup-ply, if possible. We suggest in this connection that the authorities authori-ties charged with consid rati m of such matters, give attention to developing the possibilities for munitions productions in this mountain section. We believe that there are, with minor exceptions, ex-ceptions, all raw materials in this section, or easily and safely within reach at all times, necessary neces-sary to produce all kinds of munitions mu-nitions and military supplies. With some encouragement there :ould be here developed arsenals and factories capable of turning out everything an army needs from the hard bread of the commissary com-missary to the rifles and powder of the men on the firing line. Why should not the Federal government gov-ernment investigate these possibilities, possi-bilities, establish one or two arsenals and place a few orders with commercial concerns producing pro-ducing supplies that are daily used, with a view to assisting in development of a base of supplies sup-plies practically impossible of attack at-tack from a foreign enemy? Now is the time to act. It will not do to wait until a hard necessity is faced. England's greatest weakness weak-ness in the first year of the present pres-ent war was her inability to at once utilize her manufacturing abilities for the production of in-dispensible in-dispensible munitions of war. |