AMERICA READY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1917, Page 6

AMERICA READY.

ALL RESOURCES MARSHALLED. LABOR'S HEM ATTITUDE. San Franqisco, March 28. While the parleying oetween President Wilson and the German Government has been in progress the whole of the resources of the United States have been marshalled as never before in the history of the great Republic. From New York to San Francisco, across the 3300 miles of the continent, the military forces are prepared for any eventuality. -All fortifications on the Atlantic and Pacific coast' are being heavily guarded against attacks fr6m within by GermanAmericans. Public buildings are being watched for the scones of possible outbreaks of "f rightfulness" of Gorman 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 manufacture ammunition and other necessary inilitaiv requirements at lialfjprico. The American Federation of' Labor has unanimously decided to effer the services of the millions of union workers of th>3 country to President Wilson,' but they have, made it firmly clear that there must be no exploitation of labor at the expense of the working classes. Samuel Gompcrs, president of the Federation, says"The position of organised labor is this: It is patriotic and loyal from start to finish; it will, do all that can be done for the Government and the nation, but it will not stand for the exploitation of labor for the benefit of army contractors. It does not believe that army contractors and others who may supply the country with its needs in times of war should have exorbitant promts, cither at the expense of the Government or of the worker. Labor expects no praise ior being patriotic, but it does expect that those who employ it shall show some patriotism as well. Tliefe is no patriotism in selling the Govornment something below the current •inflated n-ices for war material, but at it profit far in excess of normal times." Pierpont Morgan, the multi-millionaire financier, has come forward am' offered to lend the United States Government a large sum of money without the payment of interest. Recruiting is progressing splendidly throughout the 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 Hun .•pirates. The devastation wrought by tinretreating German armies in Franco has .done even more to accelerate recruiting in America.

Aviators have arranged for aerial coast patrols on both Atlantic and Pacific seaboards, Eed Cross units have been organised in every State in the Union. Uncle Sam's big warship programme is being rushed with the utmof. speed. America is determined to show Germany that she is a Power to be reckoned with, and that the Kaiser will have some cause to regret the slur cast at America to the effect that' 'America would make no difference in the conflict!"

Of course, the greatest problem within the confines of America is the feet that there are 2,501,000 persons of Germaiv birth resident in the United States, and although there have been many meetings where those German-Americans have violently protested their loyalty to America—their adopted land—they are still looked upon with the utmost suspicion. According to advices from Washington there is every likelihood that the United •States will send an expeditionary force to France to help the Allies, aiid that an unlimited supply of money will be 'voted England and France. . One New York paper—the World— has actually suggested that America should make a present of one< billion 'dollars to tho Allies for prosecution of the war. From all over the United States have come a flood of messages supporting the suggestion. One well-known American ha? wagered that within twelve months there will be 500,000 American soldiers chasing Hindenburg's forces back to Berlin. There are already over 50,000 Americans fighting with the Allies in France.