A LITTLE EXCITEMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 290, 2 August 1932, Page 4

A LITTLE EXCITEMENT

The trouble which. Uncle Sam has experienced with his "bonus" expeditionary force is undoubtedly serious, but it has unquestionably provided the enthusiastic gentlemen of the American press with some first class copy. The vivid, accounts of military movements, tear gas,"and machine gun demonstrations, are given with a gusto which is just a little amusing. New Zealand, which sulfers rather from the conservative British spirit and prefers to keep its family squabbles wit'hin the privacy of the home, was annoyed when it inspected its Auckland riots through American spectacles, but for all that, no one can accuse Uncle Sam of gilding the lily on his own account. To the outsider, the actual degree of disturbance created by the bonus army scarcely appears to justify the impressive display of force which was made when Mr. Herbert Hoover summoned his armed myrmidons to uphold the dignity of the Star Spangled banner. The lengthy cable messages reporting in appreciative detail, the sabre rattling of the forces of law and order, dernonstrate very plainly that their recorders are deriving intense satisf action from the fact that America can vie with even effete overseas nations in providing a riot sensation. Germany has her Brown Shirts and various other interestmg uniforms, Italy her black-shirted Fascisti, and now America has her Khaki Shirts. "The use of troops, cavalry, infantry, tanks, and machine gun corps v/as ordered by the President after police efforts to carry out the demand for the immediate evacuation of Federal property had precip^tated a riot. After a pause to give the veterans a chance to move out peacefully the khaki line, steelhelmeted and in full battle equipment, moved forward with tear gas bombs and fixed bayonets. The cavalry, with drawn sabres, pressed the charge home." This extract from one of the most exhilarating of the American cables, has a fine martial flavour which will rival anything from Berlin or Rome, and if it savours just a little of bellicose swagger, perhaps a great deal of that may be attributed to the highly developed dramatic sense of the American journalist. However, the aetivities of the bonus army have their serious aspect, and shorn of the somewhat melodramatic atmosphere given to the cables, provide another instance of the trencl of the times. Under different names and in different guises we have our bonus armies everywhere. Their object in the main, is something for nothing or as near to it as they can safely approaeh. Each is firmly convinced that theirs is the cause of Right and that God should fight with them. The American bonus army claimed that the Government had come to the assistance of the financial interests by passing emergency legislation, and that it therefore should do the same to ameliorate the conditioiis under which adversity had placed the war veterans. Our own bonus army of unemployed insists that since their unfortuhate "position is not of their own making, they should receive more liberal tf eatment. The bonus armies of the overseas Dominions are now encamped at Ottawa demanding further concessions from tha/t benevolent gentleman Mr. John Bull, and presently America herself will have' a bonus army from Europe asking for concessions on war debts. In every case, it seems ' to b'e always the other fellow who can afford it best. America's bonus army cannot, or will not see that its demands, if granted, woulc, mean financial chabs. ' Many of New Zealand's relief workers ; cannot realise that further taxa-

spell economic stagnation. The | Ottawa delegations are askirig ;from Britain favonrs which, if they were granted, would imperil the latter's world trade. The Furopean nations are hoping for favours from America 'while they are still unable to agree among themselves, as to what woiild be a fair return by iwaY/ of „disarmameilt .