Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-31
DOESN'T YET REALIZE
SERIOUSNESS OF WAR
America Apparently Stands To-Day
Where England stood
In 10l5.
BY @. F. BEltTELLI.

o1 " r.. bEtIELLl.
tStar correspondent Of tho Inter.
national News Service at Paris. who
has just reached the United States.J
NEW YORK. July ao.-If Americas
attitude toward the war Is gagged by
the outward appearance of New York,
state of mind as England was in the
beginning Of 1915.
1t Ia quite evident that tho masses
OF American citizens do not in any way
realize the seriousness III the situation.
Germapy's blunder in sending Zeppe-
Inns over the lovely English counties
and over London itself brought the
war home to the phlegmatic English
man and started that wave of self
sacrifice among all British subjects.
Every man,, woman and child in Eng
land to-day has only one thought-to
do and to give to his utmost. irrespec-
tive or personal sacrifice, In order that
the cause OF peace and democracy might
triumph as soon as possible.
AS for France. she is now giving
gladly every man and every dollar for
The naturalization Of the same ideal.
Scientists. medical men, every brain
in the country Is training to it's ut
most. All citizens. from the highest
o the lowest. in the great repLblin.
are engaged In tho same mighty work.
was. therefore. quite sure ! would
nnd New York somewhat different from
the gay city I knew SO we'll.
But nothing of the sort. New York
ID the same New York. Except for the
increased number of flags and decora-
tive arches, few foreign uniforms.
not many khaki ones, there are no
visible signs of war.
dress as magnifcently as before. The
display of jewels. the galaxy of luxu-
>rtous motor cars, the general tone Of
wealth somewhat shocks the man just
arriving from the seat of war where
the cup of sorrows is really overflow
ing.
No. II what 1 have seen of New York.
Saratoga. Tuxedo. Newport, NarraGan-
sett. Long Beach and other places
along the Atlantic coast is all symp-
tomatical of the present feeling of the
masses Of America towards the war.
then I must say that the man in the
street does not realize what is expect
ed of America and what America has
pledged herself TO carry out. Presi-
dent Wilson. the House and the Sen
ate may vote and enforce laws; the
army and navy may recruit and train
on land and sea, hut neither the laws
nor a big army nor the greatest navy
ly and surely without the whole
hearted support and sympathy OF every
citizen.
In support Of my assertion quote
Me instance of England. England's
achievement began only the day that
Englishmen awoke to the realization
that the nation was engaged in
death struggle: that a part from pa
triotic principles it was to the interest
Ian 1,iS ant m
port to the common cause.
My personal observation on the west
ern front, my many confidential talks
with high placed men in every branch
of the army, navy and government In
France, have convinced me that this
is an industrial war Individual valor
counts a great deal. but 1t is the ma
chine which carries on the war. and
II is the nation which in the end will
have the supremacy in war machines
that will throw the balance on the
side OF victory n5
On the eve OF the great sacrifice.
Americans should do as the French
have done. restrict expenses.
Signs in this direction can be traced
In the German press SO far 1t has been
saying little about American interVen-
ton. and that little in the sense of at
fected scorn. But information reach
IHS IdIlS Has SHOWN lHtt TIE carly ar
rival OF the vanguard of the armies
that are building for General Per-
sh!ng has struck terror Into the hearts
OF the German rulers. The German peo-
pie are now convinced that President
Wilson and his administration are put
ting every ounce Of energy into the
prosecution Of the war, and that il the
German government waits for the
American blow TO fail in France the
defeat OF their armies will be absolute
ind final.