Mexico Missouri message., 1917-06-14
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

The United States anticipates from
three to five more years Of war, and Is
preparing for 1t 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, 1t is not expected that our
armies will appear there in great
strength before 1918. This much of
its plans the government allowed to be
known last week. President Wilson,
1t 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
ments of the government. To co-ordl-
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 $4,000, 100000 year
and their distribution to the various
countries. This it Is planned, is to be
controlled by commission, rather
than by one man, and such is the ad-
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 a 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 a 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-
tons 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
might be agitation against registra-
ton and to arrest the speakers. In
some instances 1t was shown beyond
doubt that German influences and Ger
man money were behind the demon
strations.
Chicago, NeY York and other cities
were the scene of meetings of Social
lists, pacifists, conscientious objectors
and other intentional or unintentional
aids of the kaiser. These gatherings
voiced the demand that the United
States government at once announce
its war aims In definite and concrete
terms and make peace as soon as those
aims are achieved. The Socialists, ac-
cording to their leaders, are concerned
chiefly IN spreading their doctrines
throughout the world and see in the
war q fine opportunity to accomplish
this. AS for the conscientious Objec-
tors, one may well quote Colonel
Roosevelt's phrase in his Memorial
Day address; IF any man is too con-
sclentiOuS to fight he ought to take