Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-09

! hopes. 1t was their fatal blunder-a
blunder from which they will never
recover, but a blunder which has saved
civilization.
Il speak with confidence about the is
! sue Of this great struggles confidence
which'is redoubled since you have thrown
in your lot with those who have beea
fighting since 1914 i go. indeed, sugges-
lions that Germany. incapable of winnin.
by arms. is going to win through the lie
climate weapon Of submarine warfare. 1
believe it not, nor do 1 at all minimize it.
I do not wish to minimize the gravity Of
the submarine menace.
THE question of munitions is a case n
| point. l do not wish to detain you on
such an occasion with details: but at the
beginning of the war it became evidt n.
that Germany had recognized the import
ance of the munitions question. had been
preparing for thiS war through years CT
peace by having q supply CT ammunition
at her disposal greater than the whole OF
the rest of the world put together. AMI
at one time it almost looked as If TIE
cause of civ .lization and liberty were to
be crushed under the multitude of shells
anu tilC WEIGHT u al liilciS.
1--WE have gotten over that difficulty.
1t was a very great one. I do not deny
that the submarine difficulty is a very
great one. l do not deny that it Will re-
quire every effort made either in Britain
or here successfully to overcome it.
But it will be overcome. That those
efforts will be made that the United
States of America, like Great Britain ana
her dominons will throw themselves into
the task with ungrudging efforts. and that
those efforts will be crowned with sue
| cess. do not doubt for moment.
This war is not going to be settled by
the sinking of helpless neutrals. or by
| sending women and children to the bot
| tom by torpedoes or gunfire. 1t is to be
settled by hard fighting and when 1t
| comes to nard fighting, neither America,
nor Britain. nor France. need fear meas
| uring themselves at any moment against
| those who have risen up against all that
we hold dear for the future.
| Il therefore look forward. not Of
course in spirit Of light and easy
| and unthinking confidence. but with
| firm faith. to the future of this war.
1t requires every man and woman on
this side Of the Atlantic as on the other
side of the Atlantic to throw their eff
! forts into the scale Of right; but that
effort unquestionably will be made, is
being made, will be made yet further;
and If 1t be made no more doubt that
success will crown our efforts, and
that posterity will look back upon the
unions of these peoples, symbolized by
! such meetings as that which I am now
addressing, as marking a new epoch In
the history of the world, in which oil
the civilized nations aroused them
selves in unity to deal with one Of their
number which has forgotten its re-
sponsibilities. forgotten its duties and
in the INSCRIPTIONS lust for universal
domination, has brought the greatest Of
know calamities upon the world.
Ladies and gentlemen. I have de-
tanned you too long. but was led away
by my subject. On my behalf and on
behalf Of my friends around me. beg
| to thank you for the unique honor which
you have paid to us. and through US
| to our country, to our cause, which Is
your cause. and to the future OF civiliza-
ton, which is yours as much as ours"