The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-03
H How Long viii tic Wal: Wi:sIi, Ii,ast7.

that Germany an unbeaten nation,
and that a lag part of all the re-
ports put out about disorganization in
the German navy and army and the
danger of revolution and food short
age are put out by the German gov
einment for the express purpose of
playing us for suckers and causing
us to halt In our preparedness cam
paign.
Many OF our people do not seem
to comprehend the dangerous un-
broken strength OF Germany nor ap-
preciate the fact that Prussian mill
itarism will stake all upon this war,
knowing that IL 1t should lose, mill
tarism and Prussian autocracy would
Do swept out OF existence. and these
people are constantly counting upon
peace with Russia, or the overrun-
ming of Russia and the opening of It's
enormous food supplies to the Gerl
man army. as possible ways of win
ningi the war or OF bringing ABOUT
peace on Germany's terms.
The Waco Daily Times Herald
commenting on the war. says:
Our own judgment is that the
American soldiers will never have to
fire a gun.
When the Kaiser sees that Uncle
Sam is in dead earnest, he is going to
get cold feet.
And IL he doesn't. IL he persists in
biuffing. Fritz and the boys are going
to call him down.
The Kaiser promised great things,
and Fritz and the boys put their trust
iilS himrand went confidently to the
front, "o
The fourth winter is now here, and
all the advantage is with the allies.
The Prussian military machine is
hopelessly mired. which fact is known
to the Kaiser and is beginning to per-
colate to the people.
1t looks very much as though the
soldiers will never have to
fire a gun.
But that's no excuse for letting up
in our preparations.
The more and the better Uncle
Sam prepares. the quicker the inevi-
table surrender Of the Kaiser and the
Prussian military machine.
The views expressed by the Times
Herald are held by too many people,
and these very viows make the people
OF the country less awake to the situ-
alton. Instead of looking as though
American soldiers would never have
to fire a gun, the Manufacturers Rec
ord makes the prediction that hun
dreds Of thousands of American SOL
diers will have to he in the thick of
the fight. possibly millions; that tens
of thousands. and perhaps hundreds
of thousands, of American soldiers
will be killed or wounded; that the
war Will last for s.t least another
twelve months. with a strong proba-
bility Of its lasting two years or
more; that it will take the utmost
power OF American men and money,
united with the men and money of
the allies. to win. We shall see some
dark days before we win. There will
be days. as In the Civil War, when
men will feel that the struggle is
hardly worth the awful cost. and
President Wilson will be begged to
make peace on Germany's terms, as
Lincoln was begged to make peace on
the South's terms.
We should dismiss from our mind
every thought to the effect that Ger
many Is beaten or that 1t will not be
able to maintain long and desper-
ate war. We are apt to forget that
Germany dominates q compact coun-
try Of nearly one-half the area of the
United States, with a population of
from l75.OOO.oOO to 200. ZOO. 900, and
that IL 1t can get possession of Rus
STA. or a large portion of Russia, it
will open up region whose an
nual wheat production nearly equals
the bumper wheat crop of the United
States in 1915. when we raised a bill
lion bushels Of wheat.
h.through sedition, in Russia, Ger
many should be able to offer that
country an opportunity to join with
Germany and Austria against the al
lies. no human pen can picture the
years of unspeakable horror which
will be ahead of u.s. Even If Russia
stands firm and continues to fight, as
We believe 1t will do, we have entered
upon struggle likely to surpass I'm