The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-04

liiOu lHdl OAe IS JlipTcSScu Wllu titt idea that America. in meeting every demand, will. after all. play the bis part in the war--the big part even if year elapses before half a million Americans are in European trenches; and also with a fear that but for the assistance of the United States, Ger many might be able indefinitely to hold it's own against the allies.
 THE GRIM POSSIBILITY
 Nothing which has transpired be- tween the President and the comms- sioners is made public. It is believed however. that the French and English diplomats have represented to the President the possibility of Germany overrunning Italy and either through force of arms or diplomacy, weaninS Russia from it's allegiance to the en- tente.
 It is believed that with the assist ance of the United States France and England are preparing to strike ef- fectlvely at once against Germany to the end that the German campaigns against Italy and Russia will, on ac- SONht VI tAC HcCcSSlty Ol 0SfIldIsA maintaining its full strength in France, be foregone.
 The object of the plan. 1t is believed is to restore and strengthen Russia both in material and moral sense to the end that the Cossacks might con- tinue to exist as a perpetual threat against Teuton security; and to re- habilitate Italy so that it can ably withstand impending German on slaughts.
 THE ONE PAUSE
 The United States has hesitated to meet no request of the English and French commissioners-with a single exception
 The United States has agreed, it is understood, to permit the active CO., operation of the navy with the navies or England and France: to supply ths allies with food and munitions :n abundance: to extend to the allies ar indefinite line of credit. and to re- store them to an unauestionable po- sition of financial strength.
 The United States has hesitated to send an expeditionary force to France or Flanders
 There are two reasons. The first is the fear of the government that such force. untrained in trench warfare would suffer annihilation and thus fail to impress the allies with the prowess of the American soldier. The second is the desire of the administration that no volunteer expedition be per- mitted to interfere with its policy O. raising an army by selective draft or universal liability to military service
 TROOPS MAY GO
 The United States has hesitatad. What it will finally do will depend it is indicated. on the fate of the Sem ate amendment to the general staff bill which would permit Colonel Roose welt to raise an army for immediate service. If the House concurs in that amendment. in all probability Amer ican troops before the passage of an other three months. will be under training in France. within sound of the roar of battle.
 There is opposition to the Senate amendment. It is argued that if Con- gress has frowned upon the voluntary system it should be consistent; that if Congress has denied the right of a sovereign state to raise it's quota of. troops by call for volunteers such privilege should not be extended to an individual citizen.
 But Joffre says that an American force is needed. not only for its ma terial but its moral effect There ,s an inclination on the part of official Washington to give the French mar shal what he wants. So a voluntee, force may be sent to the trenches even while preparations for conscription are under way