The Dominion. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1917. AMERICA'S GREAT EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 24, 23 October 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1917. AMERICA'S GREAT EFFORT

An article by Prince Hohenlohe, quoted to-day, is to be added to other recent indications that the Germans are seriously perturbed at finding almost the whole civilised world ranged against thcin in the war. According to this son of a former German Chancellor, the confidence of the German people in their Kaiser is crumbling and they are beginning to -a-sk why the world is against Germany. This state of mind in Germany must no doubt be attributed mainly to alarm at tho material consequences of antagonising all free nations, and it is certainly amply justified from that point of view as well as in a larger outlook. Wo have closely approached a stage of the war in which Germany and her allies are destined to feel heavily the material results of that broadening of its scope, by the intervention of the United States and other nations, which was rightly hailed as a moral vindication of the Allies and as making their victory inevitable. Just what "pictorial and statistical data" figured on the Liberty Loan posters dropped by American aviators in the German lines wo are not told, but if these posters did justice to the scale on which the national war effort of the United States is developing, they are calculated to heavily accentuate that state of perturbation and uneasiness in Germany of which. Prince Hohenlohe writes. It is the simple truth that it would bo difficult to exaggerate the acccssion of new force that has come to the Allies in thQ late, and perhaps final, stages of the war. Whatever doubts at first existed as to the_ decisive importance of American intervention have long since disappeared. The announcement made to-day that the United States will participate in a War Conference, to be held shortly in London, which "will undoubtedly bear vitally on tho future of the war" is _ono of many indications that America, has entered whole-heartedly into a full war partnership with the Allies. Ample evidence to the same effect was already ' available in the tone and trend of public discussion, and in what is known of a rapidly-expand-ing war preparation which already has attained gigantic proportions. Judging by what appears*, in the leading American newspapers, the prevailing spirit may be summed up as one of quiet resolution—a fixed determination to see the war 'through Lo the point of decisively defeating Germany, whatever the. cost entailed may be. The spirit in which the American people are facing the war was definitely tested bv tho Russian military colkpse which temporarily darkened Entente prospects in the wah The result of this development undoubtedly was to stiffen' American determination and to stimulate increased energy in war preparation. Another evidence of the prevailing attitude is afforded in the fact that although tho United States is not yet at war with Austria and Germany's smaller vassals, tho prospect of war with these countries is regarded with equanimity. A Washington dispatch some, weeks ago quoted American _ officials as stating that the possibility that Austria, and perhaps other allies of Germany, might soon declare war against tho United States because of the financial aid given to Italy was recognised. It was added that this policy of assistance would be continued, and that, while there was nothing in the situation thai, would cause the United States to lukc the initiative, Austria anil other allies of Germany might not improbably construe such assistance

as a warlike act. Apart from what she has done and is doing in tho domain of war finance, in the construction and organisation of shipping, in food production, by naval co-operation, and in other ways, America is developing a military programme which is certainly intended to enable her to play a big part in the European campaign next year. Not many detail particulars are now being published, but to date the United States ha's detailed or. enrolled something over 1,200,000 men for service in .Europe. This total includes the .Regular Army and National Guard recruited to full strength, and the first draft of the new National Army, consisting of about 650,000 men. Sixteen great camps, in which the draft is to be distributed, arc now in working operation. It was intended, when the last mail left America, that the final section of tho first draft, should enter camp this month. Early in August it was announced that the Government, in preparing for the second draft of 500,000 men for the National Army, would construct wooden cantonments at tho sites of the National Guard encampments, then largely under canvas. In all, training quarters will thus be provided for 1,150,000 men. ; Of the circumstances attending the assembling of the draft, a New York journal observed reccutly:

Hardly anything so impressive in tho history of tlie American, democracy lias been recorded to the country's oredit as the patriotism and good faith shown in tho process last month of designating the young men who ore tho first to be selected for the new National Army. Upon the whole, the Government at Washington has shown creditable ouergy; lias selected trustworthy and capable men to direct the new activities; has oxhibited initiative, as illustrated by such brilliant projects as the aviation prograinmo. ... Oil tho military side, tho organisation and results of the officers' training camps have been creditable in the highest degree. Through intensivo methods we hav® created a remarkable body of intelligent junior oflicers, of fine intelligence and high personal character, capablo of giving good training to the hundreds of thousands o£ young men of the now National Army. Tho rate at which tho United States is transporting troops to Europe is not disclosed, but it seems not at all unlikely that the estimate that half a million American troops will take their place on tho Western front next spring may bo materially exceeded. While the hope is freely entertained in America, as it is entertained elsewhere, that a vigorous effort next year may give the Allies victory, it is recognised that preparations must bo so directed as to provide for a longer war if necessary. At the same time, the danger is nowhero better recognised than in America that tho enemy may attempt at the elovcnth hour to gain by intrigue what he has failed to gain by force of arms. It is fairly certain that tho Germans will make little headway in a "peace offensive," so far as the United States is concerned.