MANAWATU DAILY TIMES. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1917. PERSHING'S PLEA.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 1372903, 25 October 1917, Page 4

MANAWATU DAILY TIMES. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1917. PERSHING'S PLEA.

In a recent statclucnt to the American people, General Pershing, commanding tho United States forces in France, asked them to be patient until bis army is thoroughly prepared to outer the fighting line. This plea for patience is really an answer to criticism of over-enthusiastic Americana who want to see the Sammies do something. Their enthusiasm is greater than their knowledge of the requirements of modern warfare. The United States is much in the same position as Great Britain was when she entered the war. The British regulars were made the nucleus of an army slowly but surely developed under the most ■pui ii staking care and precaution. Pershing’s forces are the foundation on which tho United States is constructing an army, the larger portion of which must not only be equipped, but drilled and whipped into shape for effective work. It took Great Britain more than a year to place 500,000 men in France. It will take the United States six months, at least, to equal Great Britain’s original army. MODERN MIRACLE. There went into effect in America in) Saturday, September 8, a provision of I lie Komi Control law, which suspended. (luring tho period of the war, Hie maim fact lire of gin and whisky. Taking into consideration tho revenue derived from these products, and the protection extended by Federal and state governments not only in their production but sale, suspension ot manufacture may be regarded ns a modern miracle. It is economic revolution, but not; so great a miracle as llie conversion of 3,500,000,009 pounds of grain into food for 3,000,000,000 people. That is what this food control law does. And it is this phase of this modern miracle which, more than any other, makes practically certain that ,

temporary suspension of gin and whisky making will in the end become permanent; or, at least, ho allowed in the future only under government regulation and control that will continue to subserve the nation’s food needs. This economic revolution would be without real result were whisky manufactured at the close of the war again to assume the proportions it has had. As a prominent American newspaper says: “The nation cannot again afford to be ruled by whisky.”