THE PELORUS GUARDIAN and Miners’ Advocate. TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1917. AMERICA AND THE WAR.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 47, 19 June 1917, Page 4

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN and Miners’ Advocate. TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1917. AMERICA AND THE WAR.

“We have made our choice. Woo to the men who seek to stand in our way.” With these momentous words President AVilson concludes one of the most notable and courageous speeches

of the war. They summarise the remarkable, whole-hearted and determined attitude of the American people to throw the whole weight of the vast resources and wealth of their country in suppressing the common enemy. All doubt of President Wilson’s loyalty to the Allies has now been dispelled, and we are now getting evidence almost daily of the extraordinary speed and large scale with which the most urgent requirements are being met. On the matter of finance the United States is in the position of a huge banking institution to the Allies, having already lent to England 500 million dollars, and the total to the Allies is now close on a thousand million. But America can afford to talk in thousands of million dollars, and expend the money without disturbing her financial equilibrium. Senate in passing an urgent appropriation of 3,281,000,000 for naval and military use, reflects the desire of the nation to uphold the Allies, cause. Once the die was cast for war there has been no half measures, and so rapid has been the development of the United States shipbuilding resources' that the Navy Department is now able to announce that triple the number of submarine chasers expected will be ready by Am gust and several hundreds ■will be in service by next January. This sounds like the death-knell to submarinism, but this is only one channel into which the resources and structural skill of America is being directed. We have the official announcement that the aircraft programme Will be much enlarged with definite plans for the supremacy of the Allies. The recent murderous raid over London will no doubt give additional impetus in aircraft building in both England and America. Contrary to general expectation America has decided also to put her fighting strength into the field —no light task for a nation situated so far from the scene of conflict.

The President in his speech spoke fearlessly, uttering some plain truths which the “military masters of Germany” will do well to digest. He said: We are about to bid thousands, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of our men die beneath the flag. The, insults and aggression of the German Government have left us no choice. Germany's military masters have denied us the right of a neutral ; and filled our communities with vicious spies and attempted to draw our citizens from allegiance to the Government of the United , . States. They sought violently to destroy our industries, tried to incite Mexico and Japan against us, impudently denied us the use of the high seas, and repeatedly executed threats to send to death any of our people . approaching the coasts of Europe. We are not enemies of the German people;. They did not originate this hideous war. We did not wish to be drawn in. - We are vaguely conscious that wo are fighting their cause as well as our own. They are in the grip of the same sinister power that has stretched its ugly talons and drawn blood from us, and the whole world is at war because it is in the grip of that power. The war was begun by the Germans’ military masters, who arc also the masters of Austria-Hungary. They do not regard as nations peoples sf the same blood us themselves for whom Governments exist, but merely as serviceable organisations which they could corrupt to their own purposes. Germany ’s purpose had been long avowed, but it was considered by the statesmen of other nations as an incredible dream of minds detached from practical affairs. But Germany’s rulers went forward filling the thrones of the Balkan States with German princes, putting German officers into the service of Turkey, developing plans for sedition in India and Egypt, and setting fires alight in Persia. Austria’s demands on Serbia were a step in the plan to throw a belt of German military power and political control across the centre of Europe and into the heart of Asia, Austria-Hungary, Serbia, Buigaira, Turkey and the ponderous States of the East were to become German pawns. Austria-Hungary was to become part of the German Empire, The plan contemplated the binding of races which could bo kept together only by force, such as the proud States of Bohemia and Hungary, the stout little Commonwealths of the - Balkans, the indomitable Turks, and the subtle peoples of the East who ardently desired undisputed independence and could be kept quiet only by a constant threat of armed men, and thou would await the day of revolution. The Germans have actually carried the greater part of this amazing plan into execution. Austria is at their mercy. Its people desire peace, but it is impossible that leave be granted by Berlin. The so-called Central Powers are but a single Power taking orders from Berlin, whose net is spread from Hamburg to the Persian Gulf. It is easy to understand Berlin’s eagerness for peace. Since the snare has been set there has been peace talk at the German Foreign Office for over a year, but little was made public, most of it being private. It has come to me in all sorts of channels and guises, but never with the terms disclosed. Germany cannot go forward, and she dare not go back. She wishes to close a bargain before it is too late. Germany ’s military masters see clearly

what fate has brought them if they fall back, or are forced back an inch. Their power at homo and abroad will fall like a house of cards. It is their power at home they are now thinking of, more than their power abroad. It is that power that is now trembling beneath their feet and a deep fear has entered their hearts. They have one chance to perpetuate their military power and political influence. If they can obtain peace now with the advantages they will have apparently gained they will be justified before the German people, and their prestige will be secure, but if they fail their people will thrust them aside, holding the Government accountable. The people will set up a democracy in Germany as there is now in all great countries except Germany. If they succeed they are safe, and Germany and the world are undone. But if they fail, Germany is saved and the world will be at peace. If they succeed we and the rest of the world must remain armed, ready for the next step of their aggression, but if they fail the world may unite for peace and Germany may be of the union. The great fact that stands out above the rest is that this is a people’s war for freedom, justice, and self government among the world’s nations to make the world safe for the peoples who live in it, and who have made it their own. The German people themselves are included. Wo have made our choice. Woe to the men who seek to stand in our way.