Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-05-03
WAR TASKS
STAGGERING
ALLIES SAY
Magnitude of Requirements
Brought About by Plunge Of
u. S. Into Conflict Re-
vealed by Missions.
ALLIES CONDITION ALARMS
Men, as Well as Munitions.
Money, Food and Shipping,
Must Be Furnished if
Germany Is Beaten.
ALLIES CONDITION ALARMS

Washington, D.. c.. April 3O-One
great thing the British and French com
missions now in this country are al
ready beginning to accomplish. Before
they &c home they will have more fully
achieved it, though by no means COM
pletely. This is that they have, to some
extent begun to remove the scales from
theieyes of Americans as to the scope
n gravity and staggering magnitude
of the task ahead of this country. Mel
Their Washington nor the nation, as a
matter of fact, has entirely awakened
to what it has to do.
Competency still obtains in many
quarters here and elsewhere, but it is
beginning TO be Jared. Officials here
are beginning to sense the fact that
this war has settled down to a great
test OF endurance among the fighting
nations. 1t has become, above all else,
a problem of food power, munitions,
shipping capacity. money power n
man power. Wonderful as are the
achievements OF the entente there is no
use blinking h fact hat Germany's
performances, too, are astounding.
Entente Couldn't Do 1t?
1t is a real and serious question
whether the entente allies by them
selves can win this war and it de-
wolves on this country to pour forth
out of it's ~eXhaustless all hat
rs iISSCSS1lS 10 luIH Uuo scale, lully,
completely md finally, against the leu
tonic powers.
On how long the war is going to last
1t is almost idle to talk. The fact that
is sure and which the visiting commits
sioners are driving home. is that this
country can clinch victory for democ-
Tacy and can do it by providing food,
shipping all manner of war material
and men, as well as money. Food is
needed above all things else, but other
resources are needed also.
1t is impossible to eNaggerate the
magnitude of the organization problem
ahead of this government. 1t is not
insuperable, but it calls for big work
along many lines. 1t calls. for the fore
ing and driving of the productive ca
pacity of this country to the highest
degree and for military and naval or
CARNATIONS of the highest order. Far
from checked, the submarine menace is
as great as ever, if not greater. 1t is
therefore not simply a matter OF rails
ing foodstuffs in this country, produce
Ing; war material and organizing armies,
but of getting together the vast amount
of shipping needed to supplement the
shipping OF the entente and to get it to-
gether as quickly as possible.
On General Cocktails n the shipping
board rests a great responsibility, but
there is reason to believe that by rea-
son of the capacity of Cocktails, as
SHOWN IN CONSTRUCTOR OF the canal, this
responsibility will be met.
MUST TRAIN IN EUROPE.
Washington. April 3O-The military
section of the French mission, headed
by Marshal Joffre, during conferences
continued today with representatives of
the war department, warned the United
States that active participation in the
wal without absolute preparation and
previous contact with field operations
would invite losses. This be
came known today after Emile Hove
laque. general counsellor, had outlined
a statement to be made tomorrow by
Marshal Jotfre to the American press.
invites Huge Losses.
you must realize said NJ. Hove
laque, that Americans cannot be
trained in this country to play at war.
They should be there on the field.
Americans should know these things
first hand and what real war is before
they go in a large scale. Unless
America has accurate knowledge of
real conditions instead Of play war, it
may cost you much"
You will be surprised how rapidly
he conditions change. Lieutenant
Colonel Redmond, who probably knows
more about artillery thany any man in
France, said to me only yesterday, II
am afraid Of getting stale before I get
bach to France"