The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1917. AMERICANS LEAPING TO ARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1917. AMERICANS LEAPING TO ARMS.

We have now a practical demonstration of the eagerness on the part of the citizens of the United States to assist the Entente Powers in their great fight for liberty and humanity. In all probability the desire to give such help as was possible formed an undercurrent during the long .period in which the President thought it his duty to avoid entering the war arena. This much is certain: no sooner has tho Conscription' Act come into operation than there is a rush for registration that 'has necessitated an extension of time, 'vrhile the difficulty in excluding those under age has been greater than that of inducing the others to come forward. A cable message stated it was expected that from eight to ten millions would be available as the result of the first call. The Americans have not entered into a

uui.ia;:L c."!ar.co with the Allies in any 1 half-hearted manner. They have had plenty of time to think the matter over and their enthusiastic response to the call leaves no room to doubt that their' co-operation was one of the most disinterested actß in history and will prove to 'be the turning point in the war. The greatest of democratic nations has answered the challenge of autocratic despotism by placing the whole of her resources—human and material—in the scale against the disturbers of the world's peace. President Wilson accurately pictured the feelings of his countrymen when he aaid: "There comes a time when It is good for a nation to sacrifice, if need be, everything, to vindicate its principles, America stands for liberty, and in defending that liberty of mankind her people are prepared to spend their vast wealth, and shed all their blood, if necessary, in the service of mankind." It is a magnificent and inspiring spectacle when a great nation like the United States, animated by marvellous enthusiasm, throws itself into the most colossal war that 'has ever been known purely and solely to crush despotism so that the other nations of the earth—largo arid small—may enjoy that freedom which the United States holds at the sacred heritage of all people. A remarkable phase of the spirit whereby, the people of the United States are actuated is that the enthusiasm for the causa they have so warmly embraced is not confined to those who will fonn the military part of | the aid given to the Allies, but is equally demonstrated 'by the capitalists and the workers. The German press sneeringly referred to .Americans as having no ideal beyond striving after gold, but the captains of industry and large f capitalists have demonstrated in no uncertain manner that in the cause of liberty money will flow like water. The copper producers have agreed to reduce the price of copper for army and navy purposes by fifty per cent, for at least a year, and the capitalists subscribed ten million dollars for the purpose of enabling the producers to increase the output of foodstuffs. Even better still is the action of the Labor Unions who have pledged their support and undertaken to suspend rules calculated to retard industrial operations. Thus we see the whole mighty forces Of the nation enrolled with the one great object of attaining a peace in 'which will be found the true spirit of democracy. The French PreI mier aptly epitomised the situation when

lie said tliat all the nations which are not nations of prey, must unite to prevent the others from disturbing the world's peace. It is possible that we appreciate America's whole-hearted efforts all the higher by reason of their being so long in taking shape, and we certainly endorse the opinion of Mr. Bonar Law that the intervention of the United States is tlic greatest event of the war, as Germany will find to her cost.