Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-11-30
WHY NOT WAR ON
ALL OUR ENEMIES?
GROWING DEMAND FOR DEcLAR-
ALTON AGAINST AUSTRIA,
BULGARIA AND TURKEY.
u. S. POSITION ANOMALOUS
May Hamper the Plans for Unified Eff
fort and Decrease Americas Influ-
ence in the Conference of the Allied
Powers.
BY GEORGE

WaShington.-It is apparent that a
feeling is growing rapidly in Washing
ton circles where influence most counts
that congress may be asked, after a
proper manner Of asking, that war be
declared against Austria, Bulgaria and
Turkey. Perhaps congress need not
be asked. The president, some legal
authorities think, can order Germany
to be struck through her allies.
It is fair to say that military author
ity in Washington seems to feel the
United States will not have as much
influence as it ought to have at the
war conference with the allied powers
unless it shall declare hostilities
against the three countries named.
The thought seems to u along lines
like these: Edward M. House, Gen.
Tasker II. Bliss and the other Ameri-
cans will have only a small part in the
formulation of a complete plan of mil
ntary campaign unless the United
States shall put itself in a position to
make the great campaign a telling one,
and this some of the military experts
believe, will be possible only If this
country shall take a direct hand in the
lighting against the Austrian, the Bull
igarian and the Turk.
AS the thing seems to be viewed by
military men Of reputation here, the
war can be brought to a comparative
ly quick conclusion only by adopting
dove-tailed plans and making a Goa
lessed effort. This is believed to be
impossible unless the United States
soon shall change it's b%enignant aspect
toward the Austrians, the Bulgarians
and the Turks. 1t is pretty well known
in Washington that the representatives
of. the allies have been unable to I'M
derstand why the United States is not
willing to punch Germany's partners.
Az Much Enemies as Germany.
AS tho thought runs here, since Pres
ddent Wilson has declared that the
world must be made safe for de-
mocracy it would seem to be his in
tention 20 ask congress for the means
of making democracy safe in the world
and these means are declarations of
war against the three powers which
AL lSdAitJ dlS AN1tiAS 49, CAALSA
States +ust as much as they are fight
ing for Germany, for they are fighting
the allies whom Uncle Sam is striving
ITO help, and the harder they fight these
allies, the greater must be the effort of
the United States to overcome their
offensives.
It is virtually impossible to find out
definitely why there as yet has been
little or no disposition to force conclu-
sions with Austria, Turkey and Bull
garia. Diplomacy of some kind or
other is said to be at the bottom Of the
thing.
AS the case is presented by military
men WHO have made a study of it and
who realize that a war to be fought
must be fought, there is little or nc
chance of ending the conflict o un-
less ali the democratic parties to it
fight together against the autocratic
parties to it. Further, it is said that
mo great strategist would attempt to
draw 3 plan for the pushing of the
war to a swift conclusion unless he
could make n of the solving fac
TORS in the case the service of the
fSOAo
United States against all the powers
now allied with Germany.
Should Fight on All Fronts.
The position of the United States
to-day is held by many in Washington
ITO be such as to prevent the carrying
out Of any great plan Of campaign. Tt
lis said in places that the United
States can use it's men on the western
front against Germany, and thereby
force q decision on that front. Mill
tary men in the main do not think it
lis certain that this can be done. At
ANY rate, they say it would take a
much longer time to do it this way
than it would if an all-embracing plan
were adopted and the United States
were to help in all quarters after a
formal declaration of hostilities
against all its enemies, for it is held
that Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey.
equally with Germany, are enemies Of
the United States.
Object Lessons for Our Troops.
Now that the censor has allowed
the country to know almost "geO-
graphically exactly" where the Amer
ncan troops are located at the front
in France, it can be said properly that
in going to their stations at the front
the American boys pass through vii
1ages in France, or rather what once
Ewere villages which ruthlessly were
destroyed by the Germans in the adj
vance to the MaEne and in the retreat
ltherefrom under pressure of the
French offensive.
The American troops in going to the
base Of operations for their present
scene of action were given an object
lesson. Fully eighty villages, or what
ts left Of eighty villages, met their gaze
In the course of their march. 1t is
easy enough for these American boys
Ito learn that would happen to the
Uuited States If the ruthless enemy
ever Sncurad O footing on tho coil Of