AMERICA MISUNDERSTOOD.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 28 May 1917, Page 3

AMERICA MISUNDERSTOOD.

OPINION OF A RETURNED NEW

ZEALANDER

Few New Zealanders are in a better

position to voice an opinion concerning the feeling of America in regard to the war than Mr. Selwyn Joyce, formerly of Lyttelton, who has returned to New Zealand to enlist after being engaged in America for the past 15 years in journalistic work for various newspapers. Mr. Joyce is on a visit to Wellington at the present time. “America has been misunderstood by the great majority of British people,” he told a reporter this morning, “and there are very few who know the deep feeling of patriotism which permeates the country. All over the States bunting is displayed, and every citizen carries a miniature Stars and Stripes in the lapel of his coat. Every school has its flag, which is hoisted each morning, and before lessons commence the pupils sing the StaiSpangled Banner.’ This may be called by foreigners mere surface patriotism, but it is more than that. I ; may safely say that ever since the war commenced every American, man or woman, with the exception of the ‘hyphenated” variety, has been heart and soul with the Allies especially with France and America’s next-door neighbour —Canada. It is well known, of course, that thousands of keen, alert, young Americans are serving with the Canadian army in France.” Mr. Joyce has fought with the Americans against the Mexicans, and his opinion of the American army is there fore of special interest. “I can assure you,” he said, that there are no better, more efficiently equipped, or better trained soldiers in the world than the American Regulars. They are only a handful, of course, but, reinforced by the National Guard and by the large number of young men who have enlisted since the break with Germany, they will make a splendid showing, if it is decided to send an expeditionary force to Europe.”

“"What are the chances of conscription being carried?” Mr. Joyce was asked. “It is almost a certainty,” was the reply, “that this will be done, for the country is now heart and soul with Woodrow Wilson, but, naturally there will be some difficulty in administering the Act. The German-American element is not likely to cause much trouble. Any demonstration on their part will receive short shrift. One ‘hyphenated’ citizen was indiscreet enough to propose the health of the Kaiser. The angry Americans hanged him at a convenient lamp-post as a lesson to others of his kind. As for the American Navy, both ships and personnel are excellent, and some of the latest battleships are really marvellous. I am convinced that the entry of America into active conflict is one of the best things that could have happened to the Allies.”