AMERICA IN ARMS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 37, 15 May 1917, Page 8

AMERICA IN ARMS.

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. ENTHUSIASM IN RECRUITING. Writes the San Francisco correspondent of the Auckland “Herald”: — While the parleying between President Wilson and the German Government has been in progress the whole of the resources of the United States have been marshaled 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 the fortifications on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts are being heavily guarded against attacks from within by German-Americans. Public buildings are being watched for the scenes of possible outbreaks of ‘ ‘ frightfulness” of Gorman spies, and railway? 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 military requirements at half price. The American Federation of Labour has unanimously decided to offer the services of the millions of union workers of the country to Mr Wilson, but they have made it firmly clear that there must be no exploitation of labour at the expense of the working clstsscs* Recruiting is progressing splendidly throughout the country; most of the large colleges have formed naval and ing in the utmost earnest, . and the whole of the country is fired with unbounded enthusiasm, stirred up by the military corps, and have begun trainruthless submarine warfare of the German pirates. The devastation wrought by the retreating German armies in France has done even more to accelerate recruiting in America. Aviators have formed aerial coast patrols on both Atlantic and Pacific sea-boards. Red Cross units have been organised in every State in the Union. Shipbuilding was never more active, the extensive warship programme being rushed with the utmost 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 * 4 America would make no difference in the conflict!” Of course, the greatest problem within the confines of America is the fact that there are 2,501,000 persons of Gorman birth resident in the United States, and although there have been many meetings where these Ger-man-Americans have violently protested their loyalty to America—their adopted land—they are still looked upon with the utmost suspicion. The “New York World” has suggested that America should make a present of one billion dollars to the Allies for the prosecution of the war. From all over the United States have come a flood of messages supporting the suggestion. Already there are over 50,000 Americans fighting with the Allies in France.