Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-31
AMERICAN
MOBILIZATION
CONTINUED from First Page)

narrow outlets through Genoa and
Naples. By intelligent activity notable
progress was made in securing the neces-
sary transport fleet to complete this mob
ilzation. Unexpectedly there has been
partial resumption Of passenger service
by ships Of some OF the belligerents. In
addition our government has tested every
imaginable resource for the creation of
the necessary fleet, from equipptng army
transports to requisitioning our coast
wise ships and to the project OF pur-
chasing by authority Of new legislation
amending our navigation laws. the steam
ers of helligerents informed in our neutral
ports. Without directly chartering them
our government has evidently approved
and encouraged the utilization Of the OPP
tons on Italian ships secured by Consul
General Jones at Genoa, who In this
emergency has shown energy. courage
and wise forethought.
Americas Unique Mobilization.
This mobilization SO effectively under
way and SO creditable to our government
has some unique characteristics. The
modified army Is not sent to tho scene
Of war that 1t may kill or die 1t is to be
withdrawn from the war area in order
that its members may live. to beneht
and bless their country as producers OF
national wealth and as developers OF ma
tional resources. The mobilization IS
thus OF peace. not war. to save life. not
to destroy 1t. to develop and increase
productiveness instead Of to waste or con-
sumo resources. to spread prosperity and
happiness instead OF universal woe. rms
| mobilization of our peaceful army ooes
not threaten and Is not menaced with at
tack by any nation Of all the world.
On the contrary this exodus Is a relief
to battling Europe. soon about 10 Desin
to starve, and has been and Will pc
facilitated and expedited by It.
Our government should not cease a
moment too soon It's admirable and eHec.
tive mobilization measures Inc size O
the army to be moved should lie careful
~ ascertained and should not be uhdel-
estimated The tourist agencies calcl-
lated In ante-War estimates that apoul
1880 constituted this season $ Ameri-
can army of European invasion. Many
Of this number have returned; but 70
take their places there are many add
tons to the returning host from Amefl-
cans who did not come over this season.
and who did not now intend 70 return,
bat are driven out by the war. My own
slight experiences In some of our con-
centration camps convince me that the
size of our army in Europe mas peth
In some quarters underestimated In
Germany 1t seemed that everybody was
chased out (as I wasp by the declaration
of war against Russia. But later tigureS
In detail showed that between 10000 ana
15nD still remained. In Lucerne, swift
zerIand. about 5000 registered or applled
| for emergency passports at the consuiate
ard the total of Americans in that city
| was estimated as between 1000 and '.'Stp
| For all Switzerland the estimates ranged
| from nos0 as high as 10000. there
were thousands also in Italy. at Genoa
| Milan, Venice Florence, Rome and VA
pies. -,
Austria, France. Belgium. Holland. the
I Scandinavian nations, and above an
| Great Britain, contributed other tens OF
| thousands to the host.
Greater Than Our Standing Army.
| The army of Americans abroad. strand
ed, helpless and suffering in Europe, was,
/ when the mobilization began. greater III
numbers than the standing army OF The
| United States at home.
our government must not then think
too soon that it's mobilization task Is done
and stop short of it's full completion. a
comparison Of the multitude Of Amerl-
cans to be moved with the ships avail
able for moving them shows the neces-
Sity of intense and unremitttng activity.
Consider the vast feet of steamers of all
ftnN 1nC ~