The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-06-09
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

2 The United States anticipates from
three to five more years of war, and is
preparing for it on tremendous scale,
basing its plans on the idea that de-
feat of the central powers will de-
pend largely on America. France and
England are counted on to hold the
Germans back on the west front, while
Italy keeps the Austrians busy in the
Trieste and TrentinO regions, until the
United States can raise, equip and
train its immense National army.
Though a hundred thousand or more
Americans will be on the fighting front
this year, it is not expected that our
armies will appear there i'm great
strength before 1918. This much of
its plans the government allowed to be
known last week. President Wilson,
it was said, expects to send a million
men TO France next year and another
million the following year if neces-
sary.
Instead of panicky haste, careful
consideration is governing the move
iAiNhNS va tliC SoNCl lo CO-OTul-
nate the needs of the allies and fur
nish the enormous quantities of NUM-
tons and other supplies they must
have is perhaps the most pressing
problem, and during the week the cab
met discussed the creation of the vast
machinery for the purchase of sup
plies aggregating $10,OOO,OOO 900 q year
and their distribution to the various
countries. This it is planned, is to be
controlled by a commission, rather
than by one man, and such is the adj
vice of Bernard Baruch. who had been
suggested for the position. The war
commissions of Great Britain and
France formally agreed to the creation
of such commission, and the Italian
commissioners, now in this country,
doubtless will assent. Incidentally,
Italy wants to borrow several hundred
millions from the United States.
Preparing for Registration.
Preparations for the registration on
June of all men between the ages
of twenty-one and thirty for service
in the National army went forward
rapidly throughout the country, and,
with blush of shame be it said,
schemes were sprung in many locali- |
ties to defeat the success of the army |
law and to fight against conscription. |
In Texas and West Virginia organiza-
ions for this purpose were uncovered. |
and in those states and many other
places arrests were made by the secret |
service men. Federal officers every
where were instructed to keep close
watch over meetings at which there
night be agitation against registra-
ion and to arrest the speakers. In
ome instances it was shown beyond
lOubt that German influences and Ger
nan money were behind the demon
tratiOns.
Chicago, New York and other cities
we're the scene of meetings of Social
SITS. pacifists, conscientious directors
nd other intentional or unintentional
ids of the kaiser. These gatherings
DICED the demand that the United
tates government at once announce
IS war aims i'm definite and concrete
erms and make peace as soon as those
inns are achieved. The Socialists. ac-
ording to their leaders. are concerned
hiefy In spreading their doctrines
lroughout the world and see in the
ar fine opportunity to accomplish
Ills. As for the conscientious objec-
IRIS. one may well quote Colonel
oosevelt's phrase in his Memorial
ay address: IF any man is too con-
.ientious to fight he ought to take