The Dermott news., 1917-12-27

ceive some years ago. II was a re-
versal of settled thought on the sub
ject to know that Uncle Sans soldiers
of American troops fighting for democ-
racy on the fronts of the far east
would have been declared to be merely
a baseless dream fabric.
1t is virtually assured that the entry
Of the United States into actual hos
Titles with Austria-Hungary was In
duced by the logic Of the military sit
uation as well as by realization Of the
fact that even II Uncle Sam was not
supposed to be In a state of war with
the hyphenated empire. he really al
ready was fighting this second enemy.
for there is no doubt at all that Aus
TRAN guns and Austrian soldiers now
are facing our troops In the east Of
France.
Time has brought some changes In
the attitude OF Congress. Not few
members Of the house and senate were
opposed to the declaration OF war on
Germany. but when once In the war
many Of those who stood In opposition
at the first were most insistent that II
hostilities were to be carried on the
offensive should include Austria Hun
gary. 1t was evident from what many
Of the returned members Of congress
said on arriving In Washington that
they found this view Of the case to be
that of the folk back In the districts.
On More Than One Front.
1t has been known In the inner cir
Giles In Washington for long time
that as soon as the United States made
up It's mind to declare that Il state OF
war exists between 1t and the Austro-
Hungarian empire plans would be
made for inter-allied offensives on
more than one front No sooner was
the presidents message read than
there came to Washington from Paris
an outline Of the agreement by the al
lied nations for the creation OF COM
mittee on unity Of naval action
OF course II Is not proper even to
speculate on what this committee may
direct. but the natural thought 10, Of
course, that soon the United States
naval forces will be engaged with those
Of one OF the Allies In some sharp Of
fensive actions, but necessarily the
scene OF the first driving campaign Is
not disclosed nor is II proper to VEN
ture guess as to Its location.
The general STATS. which include the
officers of the war colleges Of the vari-
Gus allied countries. have been work
Ing for long time on a military Often
sive plan which would be all-embrac-
ing In Its activities. The plans neces-
sarily have been changed from time to
time us developments came In the war
situation abroad.
More unanimity In Congress-
There is feeling among the poll
ticians in Washington that with active
operations against Austria Hungary a
certainty congress Will be more OF q
unit In driving and unQuestioned pa
triotism than IL was at the last session.
II seems to be the belief that In the SEES
sion now In progress there will be
comparatively little of the peppering
shrapnel of politics. II Is known. OF
course. that some men, even In the
face OF danger to the welfare OF this
country and of democracy generally.
will continue to urge that the duty Is
for immediate peace Mt no matter what
cost. although of course no one OF the
urgers will admit In his argument that
present peace on any terms can bring
anything but prosperity and general
happiness to the world.
Some Of the senators whom Presi-
dent Wilson once denounced as the
"wiiful twelve" dozen In which both
republicans and democrats found rep
resentation, seem no more to be bent
on wilfulness. Most OF them have
come out strongly In behalf Of war
against Austria-Hungary. and few Of
them 60 further and wish that Turkey
and Bulgaria might have been included
In the presidents recommendation.
The senate members and the house
members also are today more compact
bodies so far as driving war tactics Is
concerned than they were last spring.
One or two men In either house still
will continue their efforts to preach
down a nations heart. but there are 80
few of them that II Il expected that
the effect virtually will Re nil except
for the bringing Of certain amount OF
notoriety, probably Of an unpleasant
kind. to those Of whom II recently has
been said by the president Of the
United States that they strut their
uneasy way" and persist In the debate
of peace. neither understanding Its
nature nor the way In which we may
attain It with uplifted eyes and I'M
broken spirits"