South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-26
END OF WAR IS
THOUGHT IN SIGHT
Strengthening Of Allies and
Weakening Of Germany
Will Have Effect.
By Henry CIews

By Henry 1leWA
NEW YORK. March IS. - Great
events are moving with lightning
rapidly. Russia has been reborn;
Germany Is visibly weakening; the
allies are strengthening; the United
States is preparing for war; the
railroad strike passed into history.
and the supreme court has sealed
the constitutiOnality OF the Adam
son law. All OF these events are OF
FIRST importance In ordinary times
they would have commanded the
most intense attention. accompanied
perhaps by considerable excitement.
As IL is. this rush OF developments
has been taken with comparative
calmness. and there was a notable
absence OF agitation. explained by
the fact that Americans are pre-
pared 10 face these crises and will
continue 10 face them as steadily as
other nations have done.
Unless all signs fail. we have
reached the beginning Of the end in
the worlds greatest tragedy. Tur-
key IS practically beaten: Austria IS
almost impOtent; Germany is re-
Zeppelin methods OF warfare are
practical failure. Not a few we'll
informed authorities maintain that
Germany Is anxious 10 end the war,
The most effective lines OF coopera-
ton for the United States would be
with the allies. individual action
being impractical and inadvisa BILE.
IL no alternative; we must cooperate
and rumors OF peace are once more
in the air. while evidences OF grave
internal dissensions among the CEN
trail powers multiply daily. At the
same time the allies are increasing
their ascendancy every day Great
Britain is at the zenith Of her pow
er, Russia has been invigorated by
the revolution: the French spirit is
higher and stronger than ever, and
Italy. too. seems TO have taken on
new energy. or course, Germany
may be able TO maintain the strug-
gle longer than expected. but only
at the cost OF more serious conse-
quences 10 herself; and the entry of
the United states into the war will
certainly hasten the end.
Must Decide Soon.
our own government must at
once decide just what par. we shall
play in the great struggle in which
We are about to participate. There
Cd "A suitable and active use of our
fleet. which ranks third in the
world; CD furnishing financial aid
and munitions on a liberal scale;
and CD the preparation of such an
army as We may be able 70 create
and utilize before the conflict ends
In all probability peace will be
attained before y could make and
transport an arniy of any consider
able strength across the Atlantic.
The magnitude of such task is not
appreciated by those who glibly talk
OF sending over an army of mill
hon men. Months would be re-
cuired 10 train and equip them, and
the war may be over before they
will he ready. Between two and
three hundred voyages would be
necessary to carry them. and In ad-
dit,on. a great fleet OF transports
would lee employed conveying muni-
tions. food etc We could readily
afford considerable help by the Gre
protection against submarines, as
well as by providing a large and
thoroughly up 10 date aerOplane
service. Probably the most efficient
aid we could render the allies would
he in the continued making of mu-
nitiOns and in giving financial aid.
We might easily cooperate financial
ly. If our government would lend its
credit by agreeing TO take a large
block or foreign bonds, say a billion
dollars. issuing our own in place
thereof. such a transaction would
Ice eminently sound and safe TO the
investor. and would be a simple form
of lending the credit OF the United
States for the purpose Of bringing
the war to an early conclusion.
The grand result OF the war to
the Russian people is worth all il
has cost them in blood and treas
ure. as the Almighty has evidently
ordained that IL is hereafter 10 he a
government after our own hearts
OF the people, for the people and by
the people; and that other nations
engaged in the present war may fol-
low the example Of Russia is "a
contamination devoutly TO be
wished" for the good OF the human
race. A government that permits
of a man like Abraham Lincoln to
rise from the ranks or the common
people 10 become the greatest lead
er OF the American people. through
the great gifts with which God had
endowed him. is grand and glor-
iOus one, and should be an exam
ple. for all other nations 10 follow.
America welcomes the people OF
Russia into the fold.
Need SO Years of Peace.
II the great powers now engaEed
in this stupendous struggle At the
end OF the war will agree to peace
lasting so years. they can so fnan-
cialiy redeem themselves as L. be
able 20 pay of within tha- period
their present entire war indebted
ness through the moneys saved by
the reduction OF their armaments
on land and sea.
Indeed, the cost Of the present
war. IL spent for the public good
would make a Garden or Eden OF all