Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-02
"Wake Up, America"

The New York Sun has put its An
ger on the sore spot in demanding "ac-
ton" in place of words and blowing
Of trumpets among, and at, the people
of the United States. 1t says:
The immediate effect of the Italian
situation should be to wake up the
United States to it's responsibilities
and its peril
The Italian defeat in the Julian
Alps is disastrous, calamitous in fact.
but not irreparable. 1t is beyond
doubt the eliminating effort of the
German arms in the war, being the
only offensive of any considerable
proportions undertaken by them for
a year with the exception of the drive
against the disorganized and mutt
rous Russian armies about Riga. The
Italians were steadily beating the
Austrians when German troops, with
drawn from the Russian frontier,
came to the rescue Those troops
cannot long be safely spared from
their former stations. 1t is already
apparent that in their absence the
Russians are driving back the re-
naming Germans from the advanced
positions they had won on the Gulf
Of Riga. If Cadorna stands his
ground and keeps the Germans en-
gagged on his front all that Germany
won in the drive on Riga may be
lost. That to exchange the Russian
gains for a successful invasion of
Italy would be a winning trade is I'M
deniable, but strategic conditions are
such that it is not impossible that
Germany may lose in both quarters.
In the meantime on the western front
the British and French advance con-
tinucS uninterrupted.
But the Italian disaster should
wake up and speed up the United
States. For it, in "A degree, all the
Allies are responsible. 1t was known
to all that the Italian army was
short of cannon. rifles and ammuni-
ton. To what extent the Allies had
endeavored TO meet this need is not
known, but the stories of the utter
collapse of the Italian defence sug-
Gest a complete exhaustion of NUM-
tons on the front.
The United States has been forced
into the position of chief source of
supplies for the Allies. They need
our mon on the battle front it is
true. but they need our foodstuffs,
coal and munitions even more 1t
is discreditable that the twenty-five
. ships put at the service of Italy
should have been made available too
late to lie sorviceable in the present
crisis. That we have done nothing
10 aid Italy. whose critical position
must have been apparent to military
men fer month past, rebounds
neither to our credit nor to our adj
vantage.
The Italian calamity ought to wake
up Aemrica to the conviction that we
have not entered this war just in
season TO celebrate its triumphant
conclusion. 1t demonstrates the won
derful staying power and striking
power of Germany. 1t makes more
remote than before any prospect Of
immediate peace. 1t must convince
this nation. that the task before it Is
one of colossal proportions, and that
henceforth our chief business is war.
Everything else must. be subordinated
to that end. Drive, drive and still
drive. must be the motto now.
This war is now the business of
the nation. We nate it. and properly
SO. But the quickest way to get rid
of 1t is to win it. To that every in
terest must be subordinated, and
every exertion directed 1t will not
be won by marching men alone. In
dustry must he speeded up. Let us
rec the ships being launched not only
talked about. Let us get coal on the
sea for Italy, and guns and steel, for
ell Of which she has pleaded for
months past. If labor shortage Is
holding up production let there be an
assignment Of drafted men to work
for which they are fitted. And above
all get action.
One year OF ,lnremittent. driving.
Intelligent and united work might
end the war. II we dwadle along X
may conceivably last ten years.