The Washington herald., 1917-05-19
Stripped for Aetion.


The President strnck high speed
on war yesterday. The whirf Of the
wheels was in the air. Col, Roose-
welt was eliminated from the eaua-
tion as that doughty fighter, Gen.
John J. Pershing. was ordered to
proceed to France with a division Of
regulars at the earliest possible mo-
meut.
Furthermore, not an hour was
passed in making CONSUMPTION liv-
ing, vital thing to millions Of young
Americans, for June S was announced
as registration day.
The President flung down con-
temptuous challenge to the seoffers
and the skepties by saying "the re-
sponsibility for this war rests upon
me alone. | could not evade it even
If | would" That he intends to
make-that he is able to make
American participation in this great
est war of history thing 70 which
our Posterity may look back with
pride and glory should not be
doubted.
The hampering, demorslizing effect
of a dawdling Congress is felt no
longer. The essential legislation is
now in hand. The preliminary steps
OF preparation have been completed.
Millions of Americans will be in
spired this morning by the news that
American regulars will soon be on
the firing line; that the Stars and
Stripes will soon be Haunting its
challenge in the eyes of the black
eagle of Prussia; that we are going
to take part without undue delay in
the hesh-and-blood defense of civili-
zation.
Joffre has won his point. He asked
for an American expeditionary force,
and he will get it. 1t will be small
about 10000 men, approximately
but it will be enough until the great
legions of the pick of our youth are
ready to make the might of America
felt by the German Moloch as it
should and must be felt The word
that flashes through the world today
will revive the tagging. disordered
will and aspiration of the new Rus
sia, and will give the worn, anxious
proletariat OF Germany a new glimpse
of what character of foe has been
enlisted in the great struggle to
break down the autocracy that holds
them in its iron grip.
We trust that even Col. Roosevelt
will accept the action of the Presi-
dent in regard to his personally and
privately conducted" army as the best
for himself, for the nation, and for
all concerned. From the start that
venture did not fit into the grim
business" the scientific business, Of
this organized slaughter that is 60
ing on in Europe. The Prussian ma
chine is not to be downed by inspira-
tion, by psychology. by romantic
bravery. 1t can be crushed only by
organized, calculated weight of shot
and shell, by pressure of steel, by
superiority of resources.
The nation is now proceeding with
seven-league boots to place itself on
a war basis. Whatever force of OBJ
struction places itself in the way,
whatever retarding influence of in
efficiency or red tape pokes its nose
into the business, must be dealt with
in true military fashion. 1t must be
given no shrift whatsoever, no mat
ter where it is shown; if it crops out
in the Cabinet or in any group Of
political bureaucrats, it must be given
the same drastic treatment there as
if it were an alien influence.
The master of the whole business
knows the kind of men he needs for
the prosecution of this war. His an
nouncement of last night shows that
his mind is now attuned to the type
OF executive efficiency, of active,
dynamic forces that the nation now
demands.
Forward WASHINGTON"