The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-07-23

ica's legitimate purpose in this war.
We are not sure, however, that they
know just what this legitimate pur'
pose is. We are not sure that their
representatives, in charge OF their
government, are entirely clear as to
just what we ought to do or how far
we ought to 60.
So it might be we'll, at this stage
of the war game, for all of us to stop
long enough to size ourselves up and
see where we stand, and to find out
what we agree is our duty to our al
lies and to ourselves.
One duty is to supply from our sur
plus the needs of our allies Their
chief pressing needs, we are inform
ed, are ships, money, food, munitions,
fuel and supplies. We are supplying
the money by billions. We are go
ing to build ships to the limit of our
capacity. We have entered upon
national conservation policy, that
there may be food for them. We are
furnishing all the munitions they
want beyond their own manufacturing
capacity. We will supply fuel If need
be-
Do they need soldiers, too:
Are the ranks of our allies SO de-
pleted that 1t is our duty to rush to
Europe million unframed. unseason-
ed soldiers? w
II the urgent need of our allies is
ships, more ships, and still more
ships, to haul provisions and sup
plies, will we have ships enough to
transport also a million American SOL
diers and the food, supplies I'D NIL
nitions they will need? J
If it takes two years training and
seasoning to make a trench fighter
of an English lad, won't it take just
as long to make an American boy
fit for fighting?
And couldn't we furnish our allies
sh 'ps, more ships and still more ships
VITA Tess strain If we trained our boys
Fight 'Agre, in America and hauled fooa
and supplies to them Or railroads in
stead of in ships ?iussoi ,z2,4.. IT,:
II our allies tchaveNsnot their bolt
If they have run out Of seasoned
soldiers--if England has sent t.
France all her soldiers who are fit
to fight-if France and Italy have
used up their available RESPONSIBILITY
then, perhaps, the need of our SOL
diers on the western front is urgent
But If Englandl still has several
million fit reserves+if France has
one million AID ertaly two million
4 then war econ9my in the common al
lied cause would suggest that We
feed, train, season, supply and other
wise care for our own soldiers here
in America until they are actually
needed abroad.
Japan has trained and seasoned
army of over two million. And though
she was one of the original Entente
allies, she has risked neither ships
nor men. Couldn't Japan rush al
least million of her fit fighters to
the front to stand the Prussians of
while we are seasoning our men?
Our government can easily get the
facts about how many fit reserves our
allies have. Wouldn't 1t help us all
to find out just what our duty as an
ally is, if our government would get
these facts and give them to the PEG
pie?
Wouldn't it help us to determine
whether it Is really urgent or actu
ally necessary that we rush a con
script army past U-boat danger tc
the 'battlefelds of Europe?
Haven't the people right to know
just what the purpose Of their gov
eminent is, in the matter of using
conscripted American manhood?
II it is the purpose to send a mil
lion soldiers to Europe within a year
what sane objection can there be tc
telling the American people all about
it? The people won't demand &C
know just when the soldiers sail, III
what boats or from what ports. They
won't ask for information that would
jeopardize their ships or soldiers.
But they have right to know wha,
their government intends to do with
both their dollars and their boys, in
our part Of the prosecution of this
war for democracy.
Won't it be better for our people,
our government, our democracy, our
allies and the world democracy for
which we strive, If the people are
kept reasonably we'll informed as to
what their government is doing and
intends to do?
Isn't that the surest, safest way to
keep America safe for democracy?