THE AMERICANS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 1 May 1917, Page 6

THE AMERICANS.

PLANS BEYOND BELIEF

] WHAT EDISON SAID. Mr. E. Marshall, a well-known American journalist and publicist, interviewed by the Central News Agency representative regarding the war between the United States and Ger-

many, said he rejoicea at the decision of President Wilson.

"I admit/ 'he said, "that America is not a military Power, but she is ?ar more potent in man-fig-hting force than most people on this side of the Atlantic think. Her navy is of splendid personnel, and should be of great and instantaneous value. Regarding the sending of men and munitions to Europe, I know the problem of the transport is a difficult one, but Great Britain has brought her fighters from all parts of her Dominions, defying the submarine. German submarines "will be of no greater menace to troopships in the future than in the past. On the other hand, I am convinced that the menace would be less. It must always be remembered that the United States is a great financial and manufacturing Power. I am not giving away State secrets when I say that I know definitely that plans for mobilisation have already been perfected. America's capability for producing food and munitions for export to the war zone under a scheme which las been prepared by the greatest experts in the country, and placed before th e American Government, is beyond belief. There is nothing to touch it in the whole of Europe. If the United States finds it necessary to send men to the European war zone she is in a position to send thousands and thousands of welJ-trained and perfectly equipped soldiers. Although America has not been regarded as one of the world's great ship-building nations, her ship building yards will come under the scheme of mobilisation, so that if need arise she can build vessels very much faster than Germany had sunk ships in the past. Then there is another point and I speak of it with a good deal of hesitation. Already American inventive genius has been organised and mobilised both for purposes of defence and offence. Only a few months ago Mr. Edison told me there was no reason why a vessel on the high seas should not be warned mechanically and automatically of the aproach of a submarine.

" ' PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

San Francisco, March 28.

While the parleying between President Wilson and the German Government has been in progress the whole of the resources of the United States have been mars-hailed as never before in the history of the great republic. From New York to San Francisco, across the 3300 mile s of the continent, the military forces are prepared for any eventuality. All fortifications on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts are be'ing heavily guarded against attacks from within by German-Americans. Public buildings are being watched for th e scenes of possible outbreaks of "frightfulness" of German spies, and railways and bridges are being similarly watched.

All the great manufacturing plants In all parts of the country have been placed at the disposal of the United States Government, and some of the patriotic owners have offered to matiu facture ammunition and other necessary military requirements at halfprice. The American Federation of Labour has unanimously decided to offer the services of the millions of union workers of the country to Mr. Wilson, but they have made it firmly clear that there must be no exploitation cf labour at the expense of the

wokring classes,

Recruiting is progressing splendidly throughout th e country; most of the large colleges have formed naval and military corps, and have begun training in the utmost earnest, and the whole of the country is fired with unbounded enthusiasm, stirred up by the ruthless submarine warfare of the Germp.n pirates. The devastation wrought by the retreating German armies in France has don e even more to accelerate recruiting in America. Aviators have formed aerial coast

patrols on. both Atlantic and Pacific sea-boards. Red Cross units have been organised in every State in the Union. Ship-building was never more active, the extensive warship programme being rushed with the utmost speed.

America is determined to show Germany that she is a Power to hi reckoned with, and that the Kai<-- r will l--'.ve some cause to regret 1 3 s i ur at America to the effe." that

. r --- a v.-ould make no in J^ n conflict!" Of course, tr great--6 W ithin the conf :es of

vr n is the fact tbat tne?3 are ! '. L *°° persons of German birth re: lent in the United States, and although there hav e been many meetings whe-e these German-Americans

have violently protested their loyalty to America —their adopted land—they are still looked upon with the utmost suspicion. The New York .World has suggested that America should make a present of one billion dollars to the Allies for the prosecution of the war. From all over the United States have come a flood of messages supporting the suggestion. Already there are yver 50,000 Americans fighting with the Allies in France.