The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1918. AMERICA'S EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 193, 4 May 1918, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1918. AMERICA'S EFFORT

In an interview with the special' correspondent of Now York Life, which took place before the present offensive commenced, UenSkai, I'ocu appealed to .-America to "Hurry, hurry, hun\v. Do not lose, half a minute." Ho. wont on to say that wo would stop this attack, but donniiely to win the war we must have a big American army, with shipping mol.nlisation, construction of aeroplanes and munitions—everything. Jf America does her utmost she will make the .right kind of victory sure, and Will hasten it. Only a few days ago another i'rench general declared that the present battle, might continue for a month or more, but the enemy would be held until his reserves were exhausted and bis numerical strength was worn down to the vanishing point. Then our turn would come with the help of the American divisions. The fain of the world now depends in a great measure upoii the power and promptness of the effort of the United States. "Do not wake up after it is too late," said Gexeuai. Foch to America, and the latest information regarding the growth, training, and equipment of the American Army shows that President WaaciN and his. colleagues are strenuously endeavouring to make America's blow against German tyranny as effective as possible, and to deliver it with all possible speed.

Some impressive facts and figures wore recently made public by Mr. Baker, the United States Secretary of War. Speaking on January last, he said the Army has been enlisted and selected without serious dislocation of the industries of the country. Its training is proceeding rapidly, and its spirit is high. No armv of similar size in tho history of the world'has ever been raised, equipped, or trained so quickly. In j nine months the Army has increased from 9324 officers to 110,835 officers, and from 202,510 men 'to 1,428,650 men. The Army in the field and in training in January last,was six times as great as the maximum number under arms in the SpanishAmerican war. Tho industrial and scientific departments of warfare are also receiving the attention their enormous importance demands. Me. Baker states that ."a continuous study of new weapons and instrumentalities has been ' kept up, a constant contact kept with trained men abroad studying the operation of.ordnance material in battle, and accordingly modifying, designs and plans by reason of observation and experience. ,. The American authorities appear to be making good use of Britain's experience. The Ordnance Department has been reorganised on tho model., of the British Ministry of Munitions adapted to meet the special needs and circumstances of the United States. America;has had her difficulties and disappointments, just as Britain had in the early stages of the war, and mistakes have been made. But so much has already been accomplished that America is even now making her power felt on the battlefield. Her blows are becoming increasingly effective, A proof of this is .to be found in the recent announcement that the Americans have taken over a sector cast ui Amiens. In the words of a French general, they are now writing their first page in the history of the battle of nations for the triumph of liberty.

A statement made public in January regarding the operation of the Selective Draft Law shows that tho total number uf eligible men registered was 9,58K,508. Of these 0,503,550 had not been called by tho Board, fchs number called being 3,082,1)49. A total of 1,057,363 were actually certified for service, and 087,000 were named in the first call. As regards the question of extending the ago limits for compulsory the male population available Iras been estimated as follows; 31-15 years (both inclusive), ■ 10,G8K.240; 21-30 years, (3,503,559; 18-20 years, 3,087,-, 063; .arriving at age 21 between June, .1917, and June, 1918, 1,000,000. Of the men examined, 23.7 par cent, were rejected for physical reasons. This discloses a marked improvement in physical condition since the Civil War, when 32 per cent, wererejected as physically unfit. Tho legality of the.Draft Law was challenged in the Supremo Court, but its constitutionality was sustained against every contention. The-chal-lenge evoked a very fine statement by CiUEF Justice White regarding the duty of the State to tho citizen and the citizen to the State. It was contended that compelled military service is repugnant to a free Government and in conflict with all the great guarantees of the Constitution as to , individual liberty, and that the authority to raise armies was intended to-bo limited to the right

to call an army into existence, eounlinjj aluue upon jhe willingiiesii of tho citizen to ilo his duty in lime of war. Ciniif J i;stick Width brushes aside this-argument, declaring that: Tim premise of '.his proposition is m (k'voiil of foundation <li:il. it Irnves mil. even ;i tdindon , i.l' mi which In h;i.-e I lie i:oiic!ie;ioii. II limy mil In , doubted 'hat. Ihe very conci'id i<lll of u just CiorciriiiiiL'iii and jl.i ilui.v lo jlut citizen includes tho reciprocal <>hli|;nli«M iif Ihi- oili/.en In render" military servire ill case of need mi|l Iho riiihl In rompcl it. To dii inorß limit stale the proposition is absolutely unnecessary in view of the practical illustration .ill'ordcd liy lli« nlmosl universal legislation In Ihiil elVect: now in fora). (Jhikf Jusrin: WiiiTi; (.iocs mi lo statn that one nf the lirsl. neiTiiiiil.irii mi account of which Hie Hulled Stales Constitution was formed wan to provide means of raisini; iirnieil forces, and in conclu.iioti Iμ il-clarcii that lie is unable. In conceive iipnii what theory the exaction by the Government from I lie citizen of the performance, of his ml uviue duty of eonlributillK lo 111", i efenee of Hie rights and honour of a nation an the result of it w;ir deelar-d Ity l-be great representative body of the people enn b , ) s.'iid lo be I lie imposition of involuntary moi'a! servitude in violation of Ibe (.'oirttitulion, hi ll'-is roiivincinjr, judgment CuiKr JriiTici: Wimtk uplioldn tb« bent traditions "f the American Hiiprciiic Court, .'iiid l.'iyn down principles which hold K'-'i'd for nil civilised eoiinlries. Upon the reeo){iiiUoii of them , principle:; the woll-heiiiK. if mil. llu , very beiilp, u( lII' , modern tilivtu dqu'iKl".