AMERICAN PREPARATIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 February 1918, Page 3

AMERICAN PREPARATIONS.

The basis underlying the 'American preparations is described as a recognition of the possibility of the war lasting three years and even longer. This recognition does not mean that the authorities believe in the probability of the war lasting three years, but to shorten the war Washington believes the best policy is to provide for a long war, and the measures already taken in the way of voting money, conscription, and supplies should be accepted as evidence of that belief. The American Government proposes to benefit as regards preparations, not only by America’s experiences in past wars, but by the experience of the Allies in the present war, and it is not to be lured into lessened efforts at co-operation' because of reports, however well authenticated, that an internal break is forecasted in the Central Empires owing to the marked growth of the spirit of democracy and also because the German’army is short of men. Americans generally, since the war started have cast aside the evil spell of the German propagandists, and they are now convinced that the war is being fought, not only to make the world safe for democracy, but safe for the United States. So far the weakest spot has been shipping, and to the shipping programme, delayed as it has been by competing interests, special attention is now being given. Reports indicate that German hopes of any failure due to shortage of transport will be crushingly disappointed. The efforts made in Germany to represent the United States as hopelessly divided, and the pacificist utterances of Senator La Follette as typical of the country, have created illusive hopes for a time, and may have reacted upon Russia, but the Wilhelmstrasse at least knows the truth, and the Central Empires cannot be permanently hoodwinked.