AMERICA AWAKE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 171, 9 April 1918, Page 5

AMERICA AWAKE

PRESIDENT'S CHALLENGE TO PRUSSIANISM "FORCE WITHOUT STINT OR LIMIT" ■ GERMAN MILITARISM TO BE CRUSHED New York,' April 7. President Wilson, in his speech at Baltimore, on the occasion of tho celebration of America's acceptance of Germany's challenge to fight and the inauguration of the Third Liberty Loan, declared that the nation was awake; there was no teed to call. It knew what war must cost—tho utmost sacrifice, tho lives of our best men, and, if need be, all we possess. The people were ready to lend to the utmost, even where it mean sharp skimping and daily sacrifice. "The cause we ore fighting for," he said, "stands more sharply revealed now than ever before. Americans may be more sure than ever they were before that the cause is their own, and that if it should bo lost their own great nation's place and mission in tho world will be lost." Ho reminded the audience that he had never judged Germany's purposes intemperately. He would be ashamed to speak with turbulence, or tho weak language of hatred or vindictive purposo. He sought to learn the objects of Germany from her own spokesmen, and to deal frankly with them as ho wished them to deal with him. America proposed no injustice and no aggression. She was ready, whenever the final reckoning was made, to be just to tlie German people, and to deal fairly with the German Power. "The German leaders," the President continued, "have answered in. unmistakable terms that it is not justice, but dominion and the unhindered execution of their own will that they want. The avowal has not come from Germany's statesmen, but from her military. leaderSj who are her real rulers." After reviowing the various German peace offers, President Wilson compared them with the actions in Russia, Finland, and elsewhere which followed these professions. The execution of these actions, he said, proclaimed a very different conclusion to such professions. "Are we not justified in believing that they would do the same things on their Western front if they were not face to face with armies that their countless divisions ca'nnot overcome? If, when they have felt their check to be final, they should propose favourable and equitable terms in regard to Belgium, France, and Italy, could they blame us if we concludod that they did so only to assure themselves of a free hand in Russia and the East?Vast Empire of Cain. "Their purposes undoubtedly are to make, all the Slavio peoples, all frqfc and ambitious nations of tho Ballio Peninsula, all the lands that Turkey has dominated and misruled, subject to their will and ambition, and to build upon that dominion an empire of force which fancy can erect an empire of pain and commercial supremacy; an empire as hostile to America as to Europe, which it will overawe; an Empire which will ultimately bo master of Persia and India and tho peoples of the Far East. "That programme once carried out, America, and all who care for or dare to stand with her must arm and prepare themselves to contest the mastery o[ the world, the mastery in which the rights of men and women and all who are weak enough must for the time being be trodden underfoot; and the old age-long struggle for freedom and rieht must begin again." He was ready evon i\ow to discuss a fair, just, and honest peace, if it was sincere in purposo; but tho answer, when he proposed such a peace, tame from tho German commanders in Russia; and it was impossible to mistake the meaning of that answer. Therefore he accepted the challenge; and he knew tbe people accepted it. "All the world shall know you accept it. Tbo answer shall appear in the' utter sacrifice of self, the forgetfulness with which we shall -give all that wo love and all that we havo to renew the world and make it fit for free men like ourselves to live in. "My fellow-countrymen; henceforth let everything wo plan to accomplish ring true to this response, till the majesty and might of our concerted power fill the thought and utterly defeat the force of those who flout and despise what we honour and hold dear. There is but one response possible from us— force, force- to the uttermost, force without stiut or limit, tho righteous and triumphant force which shall make right the law of the world and cast every selfish dominion down in dust." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Renter. WIDESPREAD APPROVAL OF THE SPEECH. New York, April 7.. Throughout the country approval is expressed of President AVilson's fighting speech. Tho New York "Times" says: "Tho words he has spoken will ring through the nation, uplift tlie spirit of tho people, and strengthen thorn to meet whatever sacrifice the war involves."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRESIDENT AND KING "WE AYILL DO OUR. UTMOST." London, April 7. The Press Bureau states:—President Wilson, replying to the King, expresses his gratification for His Majesty s generous message, and adds: "We will continue to do our utmost to put tbe I whole forco of the United States into j the great struggle."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable J Assu.-Router. BIG DEMAND FOR THE LIBERTY 'LOAN New York, April 7. A big demand is reported for the Third Liberty Loan. Two hundred cities subscribed their quota on the first day. The New York district subscribed 102,000,000 dollars to-day.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NEW DRAFT CALLED UP. New York, April 7. Tho United States has called up an additional draft of 150,000 men.—Aus.N.Z. Cable'Assn. [The first compulsory draft for tho United States national Army, mobilised in the latter part of 1917, consisted of (587,000 men.] FOOD SUPPLIES FOR. THE ALLIES. Washington, April 7. The Food Administration announces that 1,100,000 tons of foodstuffs wore sent to tho Allies in March, including 15,500,000 bushels of wheat and wheat products, and 16,200,000 bushels of ether grains; 80,0000,000 pounds of. beef and beef products, and 20,000,000 pounds of pork and pork products. It warns tho. public that it is imperative that tho domestic consumption of wheat shall bo cut down by one-half until the harvest. If necessary, tho supply to the Allies will bo continued. At Cleveland, Mr. J. Daniels, Secretary of tho Navy, statod in a speech that American warships of all typos, exclusive of submarine chasers, aro in »European waters.