The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-23
TINE TO WAKE UP!

TINE TO WAKE UP!
Atlanta Constitution: Second only to
Prussian Imperialism, the greatest men
ace to democracy and human freedom
today is American lethargy in relation
to the war.
Unless this lethargy is, speedily brok-
en- and the masses Of the United States
brought to a full realization of the perl
that hovers over them the war NAV
drag on to interminable length.
Great Britain. France and Italy ara
bordering upon war exhaustion Be-
gium, Serbia and Rumania are bled
white, and of little fighting worth
The burden Of winning the war, there
fore. rests largely upon the shoulders
of the only uncrippled power actively
engaged in it-and that is the United
States!
These startling facts were driven
home with an energy born Of the deep
est concern by Pomeroy Burton, assist.
ant editor of London Daily Mail and
former American newspaper man, in
an address before the Rotary conven-
tion.
II is given added significance in the
fact that Mr.. Burton, on this visit 10
Atlanta TO talk to the thousands of
American business men gathered here,
came as the direct spokesman Of Lord
Northcliffe. the spokesman, in turn, OF
the European entente, now in Amer
lea. And It is no idle message that he
brings!
To-day" said Mr.. Burton. finds the
United States dangerously apathetic and
] oblivious to the acute peril which
threatens theml 1t also finds this coun'
try astoundingly unprepared"
He declared also-fresh. as he comes,
from the seat OF war and after almost
three years Of the closest study Of IL
that the definite thing that threat.
ems the world today is long war
and by a long period | mean from five
TO twenty years, or more"
He is not unduly frightened nor try.
ing to frighten anyone as 10 the ulti-
mate outcome OF the war, but, he says,
80 serious are some features Of tho
war situation today that unless the
people of the United States awaken
quickly % a full sense Of their indi-
vidual responsibilities and join heartily
in the work Of organizing the country
for war on an enormous scale, there
! Is almost certain TO ensue long per
iod OF CHASTITY fighting and worldwide
suffering. with ruin and starvation on
every side"
II is the height Of folly for us 20 IN
lder-estimate the Teutonic fighting pow.
/ er. II Is there: and II shows no visible
signs OF diminishing TO an extent even
approaching collapse. II threatens the
world: and OF all the world, America
would be next in its path following
/ its conquest OF Europe.
Indeed. according TO allies military
authorities, as expressed by Mr.. Burton,
but for an unexplained mishap 10 the
German plans, the battle Of the Marne
would not have turned as II did in the
allies favor, and had II not, the fighting
line would today be on American in
stead OF European soil!
And here II will be in the future II
by any chance, the allies machine
should break down, placing the whole
Of Europe under the spiked helmet.
America alone can checkmate that
possible consequence; but II can do Il
only by timely and concerted action on
the part Of the whole American people!
II is time for us TO sense the danger.
10 realize that we are, as President
Wilson said in his Flag day address,
embarked upon the gravest enterprise
I'm American history" and to rouse our.
selves from our apathy and prepare for
an ordeal like that through which our
European allies are passing. We may
think we are secure but we are not
far from ~
We must prepare TO bleed, and The
sooner we begin the earlier Will come
the end