The Carlisle independent., 1917-12-27

ceive some years ago. It was a re- versal of settled thought on the sub ject to know that Uncle Sam's soldiers were to fight in France, but the vision of American troops fighting for democ- racy on the fronts of the far east would have been declared to be merely q baseless dream fabric
 It is virtually assured that the entry of the United States into actual hos tflities with Austria-Hungary was in- duced by the logic of the military sit nation as well as by realization of the fact that even if Uncle Sam was not supposed to be in a state of war with the hyphenated empire he really al- ready was fighting this second enemy, for there is no doubt at all that Aus trian guns and Austrian soldiers now are facing our troops in the east of France.
 Time has brought some changes iB the attitude of Congress. Not a few members of the house and senate were opposed to the declaration Of war on Germany, but when once iu the war many of those who stood in opposition at the first were most insistent that fl hostilities were to be carried on the offensive should include Austria-HuH- gary. It was evident from what many of the returned members of congress said on arriving in Washington that they found this view of the ease to be that of the folk back in the districts.
 On More Than One Front.
 It has been known in the inner cir cles in Washington for a long time that as soon as the United States made up it's mind to declare that a state of war exists between it and the Austre- Hungarian empire plans would be made for inter-allied offensives on more than one front. No sooner was the presidents message read than there came to Washington from Paris an outline of the agreement by the al- lied nations for the creation of con- mittee on unity of naval action.
 Of course it is not proper even to speculate on what this committee may direct, but the natural thought is, of course, that soon the United States naval forces will be engaged with those of one of the Allies in some sharp of fensiye actions but necessarily the scene of the first driving campaign is not disclosed nor is it proper to ven- ture a guess as to it's location.
 The general Staffs, which include the officers of the war colleges of the vari- ous allied countries, have been work ing for a long time on a military offen- sive plan which would be all-embrac- ing in it's activities. The plans Heces- sarily have been changed from time to time as developments came in the war situation abroad.
 More Unanimity In Congress.
 There is a feeling among the poli- ticians in Washington that with active operations against Austria-Hungary a certainty congress will be more of q unit in driving and unquesdoned pa triotism than it was at the last session. l It seems to be the belief that ln the ses- sion now in progress there will be comparatively little of the peppering shrapnel of politics. It is known, of course, that some men, even in the face of danger to the welfare of this country and of democracy generally, will continue to urge that the duty is for immediate peace at 10 matter what cost, although of course no one of the urgers will admit in his argument that present peace on any terms can brin' anything but prosperity and general happiness to the world.
 Some of the senators whom Presi- dent Wilson once denounced as the "wilful twelve" dozen in which both republicans and democrats found rep resentation. seem no more to be bent on wilfulness. Most of them have come out strongly in behalf of war against Austria-Hungary, and few of them go further and wish that Turkey and Bulgaria might have been included in the presidents recommendation.
 The senate members and the house members also are today more compact bodies so far as driving war tactics is concerned than they were last spring. One or tive men in either house still will continue their efforts to preach down a nations heart. but there are so few of them that 1t Is expected that the effect virtually will be nil except for the bringing of a certain amount of notoriety, probably of an unpleasant kind to those of whom it recently has been said by the president of the United States that they strut their uneasy way and persist in the debate of peace, neither understanding its nature nor the way in which we may attain it with uplifted eyes and un- broken spirits.