Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-03-30
THE UNITED STATES
AND THE ALLIES


United States. are interesting and sig
nificant There is evidently a wide
spread and growing sentiment that
the Republic should cast its lot with
the allies. The term cooperation
is on many tongues. One OF the most
distinguished advocates Of military
preparedness Is insistent that the
United States shall become, in the
fullest meaning OF the term, an ally
OF the allies. A group OF wealthy men
are prepared, IL is announced, to fin
ance an aeroplane feet, costing 81
100000. for operation at the front.
Men of wealth have also, 1t is said.
offered all the support that may be
needed to enable Colonel Roosevelt,
when regularly commissioned by the
government, to organize and equip in
the United States an expeditionary
force of 100000 men for service in
France. The senior governor of the
federal reserve board. w. C. p. Hard
ing, of Alabama, favors a great fed
eral loan to the allied powers; prom
inent bankers propose that the loan
shall be for billion dollars; people
are writing to the newspapers advo-
eating that this amount shall be turn
ed over or credited to the allies, not
a sa loan, but as free-will gift These
are all, apparently. typical OF the SEN
timent and spirit which animate the
nation.
That the United States Is willing,
and even eager, to help in the work
Of bringing the war to a speedy and
satisfactory close, the allied powers
can no longer doubt, and that the dis
position is supported by ability to help
will not be questioned. There is no
strain for emphasis in the statement
that, once committed to the allied
cause, its newest recruit, were the
sending of an oversee expedition ad
visable, would probably experience
little or no difficulty in increasing the
force named In connection with Col
onel Roosevelt's possible command
from 100000 to 1000, 900 men, or in the
further statement that no limit would
be put upon contributions for the al
lies, either from public funds or from
private sources. 1t may be said OF
the federal government, OF the state
governments, and of the people, that
II war is declared, neither cost MOI
sacrifice will be counted against the
attainment OF the priceless boon of q
universal and lasting peace
But there is much to be considered
before popular plans for assisting the
allies are adopted. Many Of the pro,
jects looking to active participation OF
the United States in the war are i'm.
practical, some are impossible. A
point always to be kept well in view
Is that Of bringing the war to an end
with the greatest possible expedition
During every day, every hour of its
continuance, 1t is blighting human pro
gress, and draining the worlds re
sources. Aside from the terrific losses
on the firing lines, II is subjecting mil
lions OF noncombatants to exposure. &c
unnamable atrocity, and to starvation
The genius, energy, and money OF the
United States, If enlisted on the side
OF the allies, should, therefore, be di
rected toward bringing the war to an
end with blows that can be dealt
quickly, and with no more regard fol
preliminaries than Is positively neces
sary
Precious time would be lost in or
ganizing an expeditionary force nj
this stage of the conflict. The allies
are less In need of men than of mum
lions. Next to the incalculable value
OF the sympathy and moral support
now going out to them from the Unit
ed States, the aid that may be ex
tended in the form of credit and sup
plies viii be the help most priced. The
ocean paths must be opened and kept
open. This appears to be the primary
task of the United States. and through
these paths there must be maintained
steady flow OF merchandise. The
United States, with its navy, can re.
lieve Great Britain of anxiety and re.
sponsibility along the America coast,
thereby releasing the vessel which the
latter nation has been employing on
the western side OF the Atlantic in
patrol and defense duty. II can be
of Unreasonable assistance to Canada.
which is rendering Unreasonable as.
slstance to the allies, by cooperating
In the planting and harvesting of its
crops, and by opening every avenue OF
trade and every means of commercial
cooperation With its power. It can
make II clear to the central powers
that there Is going TO be no exhaus.
tion OF resources on the allied side.
IL can and will furnish men, II neces.
sary. but there is reason to believe
that the allied nations are fully pre-
pared to do their own lighting. II their
'omrnissary and munitIon stores arc
Sept filled.
The active work Of the United