UNCLE. "SAM SLICK"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3171, 23 August 1917, Page 8

UNCLE. "SAM SLICK"

* "■ CANADIAN BANKER'S OPINION ON " AMEKICAN WAit rUSH. 'Did Montreal correspondent of the NewYork "Evening Post" rccontly reported to his paper:—Tho speed with which the first detachments of tho United States expeditionary forces were landed in Franco, and the admirable succoss of the financial measures undertaken to meet tho war outlay, have caused some revision of opinions as regards fhe time at which American intervention will become effective. It is thought, bow, that by November tho American troops in France will number several hundred thousands, with the prospect of steady increase during tho winter months. Bankers in Montreal and in Toronto who have been in close touch with military financing apparently formed the opinion, when tho United States declared war early in April, that extensive participation by American armed forces in tho fighting on the Western fTont was not to bo ex- " peeled until tho spring of 1918. Mindful of the experience of Britain and Canada I in turning largo numbers of civilians into soldiers capable of taking their places in front of the enemy .first'line, thrv naturally thought nine months or a year would bo required for tho vast preparations necessary to equip, train, transport, and maintain tho vast new armies. While the American armies actually in I France this fall may not ho large enough | to enable tho Allies to break up'the Ger- § man defences, it is practically certain i that they will bo important enough to j cause tho German high command, and i and the German soldiers in general, the ) gravest'uneasiness regarding their co- j operation in the Allies' assaults upon the t Teutonic positions early in 1!H8. Taking j a broad and general view of your war ! progiess to da.te, it can be said that tho I Teutons certainly have grounds for apprehension regarding the onset which will be launched against them neat spring on tbo. West front (unless they meantime' make their great surrender)"by the bet-! ter-eqnipped and outnumbering armies of; S France, Britain, and United Status. S