The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-14
PUBLIC SAFETY SECURE

q
scri5ed. What might have hap
rened in the United States if war
had been forced upon il two and a
half years ago with a warning as
shCrt as that received by Frante and
the United Kingdom, is something
/ tha. can be guessed, approximately,
! in the light of the experience of
those nations. The pluck OF Bel
gium broke the force of the blow in
tended for France, and gave the
United Kingdom an opportunity to
tally its forces hastily for defense
against the thoroughly organized
machinery of Germany. More than
month intervened, however. be-
tween the onslaught upon Liege and
.he reversal on the Marine, and in
that time France and Great Britain
had to grapple, not only with The foe
IN front, but with the fire in the
rear. for the German system of
espionage was menacing them on ev-
cry side.
| The United States has had two
and half years in which to learn
something of the methods of Prus-
sian warfare on land and sea. The
American nation has itself discov-
cred and rendered many of these
methods innocuous. To be fore
warned is to be forearmed, and.
while the Prussian spy may persist
for some tint within the territory
Of the latest country to enter the
war. he and his works are now 50
less dangerous than formerly. AL
though state of ar exists, and al
though the country may be engaged
actively, and to the extent of its re
sources in men and munitions. over
sea, on the oceans, and at home, in
the greatest conflict the world has
known, the domestic peace. of the
United States should not be dis
turbed. Ptople will go about their
vocations and their avocations as
Usual There will probably be quite
as much travel as usual. Travelling
will. no doubt. be as safe and as
comfortable as usual Nothing
should, and it is within bounds to
say that nothing will. interfere with
the movements Of the people, or with
the legitimate recreation and en-
joyment of the people, in tht East
or West, North or South, on the
coasts, or in the interior
There is not. and there should not
at any time be ground for timidity
F! III visiting the seashore. In Great
Britain. which is insular, and not
urally far less immune to attack
from the sea than is the United
States, or Canada, few, if any, peo-
ple have avoided the Watering
places, since the outbreak of the
war, from any fear of lombard
ment.
There is not the least probability
oil German invasion of the United
states. No matter what the aarm-
lists may say. the landing of a Ger
man force on the shores of tha:
country is not nationally thinkable.
Nor is there any likelihood that the
coasts or cities of the United States
vii; be bombarded. The war is not
going to be fought in the waters or
on the land embraced within the
boundaries of the United States.
1t will be an excellent thing If
every citizen performs his duties.
attends to his business, goes about
his affairs, takes his vacation. and
pursues his inclinations in full con-
hdence, and in the consciousness of
right to virtually the same free
dom OF action to which he will be
called. Meanwhile, he can serve
best by doing his part, and letting
tae government manage the war
Public safety in the United States is
secure.-Christian Science Monitor.