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Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1918, Page 2

The present perilous time on the Western front has had the excellent effect of stirring up America to complete stick ing point. We are told now that the United States is straining every nerve, and this applies no douht to all departments capable of co-operating in the .Allied defence. The late, entry "f America into the war needs atoning for. President Wilson might w c ll have made up his mind a year earlier, in which circumstance it is not likely we would have had the Russian catasfronhe. the Italian debacle, or the present enemy offensive. This seems a

great deal to say, but if thp western forces had had something more than the moral support of the United States when Russia w?ts in the fray, the Frnnen.rtritish troops could have been used with greater freedom on the westand tile enemv prevented hv the Allied forces from concentrating to the exlent thev have done. It would have been a fortunate circumstance if the Somme of 101(1 could have been followed mi in 15)17 »ith a similar advance, hut lack of'reserves prevented the major operation. Had America entered a year sooner, the 1917 oampnign would hove been the reverse of that now experienced. The Allies could hare taken the offensive instead

of being the defender. Thus do we see might have been and how circumstances have so fallen out as to give the enemy-an advantage, which should never have occurred, had the world realised its task earlier. -