“WHAT IS AMERICA DOING ?

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1917, Page 4

“WHAT IS AMERICA DOING ?

RAPIDLY GETTING READY . FOR A LONG WAR.

(By Hamilton Fyfe.)

New York, August HI

All astonishing report has reached me to the effect that little is heard in England about the war activities of the° United States, and that consequently the people at home are inclined'to believe that this country has not yet thrown irsUf energetically into preparations for helping to bring the war to an end. It is difficult for us here to understand how such a strange, unfortunate misconception cm have been formed. It is true that the American pe iploin the mass have not grasped the immensity of the world npheaval anymore than the British people did during the first year of the war. They, must be taught by their own experience. What others have learned can help them little towards a full realisation of the issues at stake and the extent to which thi.ir interests are threatened along with those of all other freedom-loving nations. '

But while this is true of the American people in._the mass, there is a large proportion of them which does fully realise both the character of the struggle and the necessity for the United States to do everything possible as quickly as possible to end it. The men upon whom lies the responsibility of guiding Jus nation and translating into deeds the resolve of the national representatives to call Germany to account are devoting 1 all their time, all their intellect, all their force of character to tlie task". r

The newspapers, with a few deplorable exceptions mostly published in the German language, are giving these men all the encouragement and assistance in their power, and the attitude of the Press deserves warm and grateful recognition. Every day the news which is given most prominence relates to the steps which have been or are about to be taken to put not only the American Armies but, also the American people into a state of readiness and fitness for a war which may last a long time. TWO IMPORTANT DECISIONS.

Daring the past few days two decisions of the highest importance have been registered. The control of the whole of the fend supyly of the country has been entrusted to one man. Mr Hoover’s powers are very wide and he intends t.) exercise them. When we l-ecoled: that Gieat Britain is a country dependent for two-thirds of her grain and meat upon outside soni’ces of supply-, and that it took two years and a half to decide that food control was necessary, we must admit that the President and Congress have shown activity which in comparison is marvellous by reaching the same decision in four months.

Hot less valuable as testimony to the forethought and energy of American statesmen is the resolve of the War Industries Board to protect the taxpayer from the profiteer. If we in England had said firmly 7, ‘‘ The Government will pay for what the country must have at a fair rate, and that rate will he the cost of production with a reasonable profit added,” we should have prevented a great many millions from passing from the pockets of the community into those of grasping individuals. If we had said further, “ The prices paid by the Government shall also he the prices •barged to the people,” we should have prevented much suffering and have cut down, which is still fruitful, the tree of discontent.

During the past week the calling up of men for the New Armies has gone forward vigorously. Grounds of exemption have been narrowed and sterner judgment will be meted out to those who resist the call or offer fraudulent excuses. By the beginning of September move than 100,000 men are expected to muster in the training camps. Their departure is to be celebrated in every city, town and village by the turn out of the population. These farewell demonstrasions are certain to send up the patriotic thermometer. Already the marching- of troops through New York is watched with greater interest than a few weeks back. As 1 am writing a battalion of fine, toughlooking soldiers of a famous local regiment with its band passes along Fifth-avenue. Hoads have appeared at almost every window and the pavements are lined with men and women, in many of whose eyes shines the light of pride, the mystic glow of the desire to prove that they can also make some sacrifice in the country’s cause.

MEN WITH CLEAR VISION. So far the number of men in khaki seen about the American cities is small. The people, soon accustomed to drilling in the parks, pay little attention. But as the great army grows the nation is realising and will realise more and more that it has taken up a share of the free man’s burden and that nothing else really matters until the foes of freedom are struck down.

Then the nation will ..be grateful and will pay honor to the men who are preparing the United States for | war with so clear vision for the needs j not only of this year but also next | year and the year after. Already the ] President’s embargo on shipments to neutral countries has made the enemy i more uncomfortable. Already the ] building of aeroplanes has been planned on a scale which is calculated to make the Germans painfully bewail their war from the air on civil popu- ■ lations. Shipbuilding is going ahead now that men have been put in charge of it who can work together. The j Inventions Board is examining many devices for use against U-boats, and a member tells me that he will be disappointed if some discovery of value is not made within a few weeks from now. Some day the world will hear of the other help the United States has already given the Allied cause—help of infinite value. So if you hear questions asked about what this country is doing you can reply “ Getting ready far more rapidly than Great Britain did, laying the basis of her preparation carefully, looking ahead so as to be in good shape for a long war,”