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Show Civilians Start Wars Civilians start wars; soldiers stop them. This in substance is the declaration of Major General W. O. Everson. chief of the militia bureau, who recently left the pastorate of an Indiana Baptist church to take his present position. He has served in two wars himself, besides devoting devot-ing much time to the national guaid of his state. The general's remark was Intended Intend-ed to be a refutation of the often repeated charge that military men are the cause of wars. He also aid: "No soldier wants war, but it is foolhardy to think of disbanding disband-ing our forces and giving no heed to preparedness." It is true, as General Everscn says, that decisions for war are made by civilian officers of governments. govern-ments. The armies and navies only on-ly coma into the picture after war is declared. It is only natural that military men, upon whom the responsibilities re-sponsibilities for ending war must fall, desire to have adequate personnel person-nel and equipment with which to "ombat the enemy when their civilian ci-vilian masters say the word. They also believe that preparedness is the best means for averting aggression aggres-sion in th part of other nations. It may be that military authorities authori-ties sometimes recommend a greater great-er expenditure for war preparations than is ncessary, but they do not 'dvocate war itself. |