The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-06-15
GREAT Peril IS
FACED BY nation
COUNTRY MUST AWAKEN AT
ONCE OR GERMANY WILL
WIN THE WAR.
U. S. MAY BE ALONE
Ouick Action Deemed Necessary Or
America May Fight Lone
Battle.
(By II. N. Rickey.)

the people of the United Sates-
rich and poor, employers and en-
ployes. business men and artisans
and farmers, the whole one hundred
millions of us-do not wake up at
once to the imminence of the dam
ger which faces this country in the
world war, then God help us, for no
human agency can.
That the danger can not be over
estimated. that it is growing with
each day and each hour, that it may
result within few months in dis
aster so great that the bravest may
we'll tremble in contemplation of it.,
is not merely the opinion of the writ
or. If it were, this article would not
have been written.
Best-Posted Men Alarmed.
But this is the Interpretation OF
the situation voiced by the bcst-post-
ed men in Washington in Office and
out of office. II is the almost unani-
nous opinion of those who are in
position to know the facts uncolor-
ed by European censorship, and who
have the intelligence to estimate the
facts and the courage to face them.
The writer has been i'll Washing
ton for a number of days for the pur-
pose of attempting to break thru
the crust or rather hard shell of Off
cial secrecy aud reticeuce in an eff
fort to get at the real facts.
1t seemed that it was vitality
necessary that the truth be told,
whether or not it's telling conformed
to the ofiicia, view as to how much
or how little information it was safe
TO pass along to the people.
Must Tell Public.
This is not Intended as a criticism
OF the Government officials, either
civil or military. nor as charge or
even suggestion that they are will
fully distorting facts. The neWSpa-
pers are as much or more to blame
than the officials for the lack OF ap
probation and understanding on the
part of the great mass of the Ameri-
can people of the magnitude of the
task which the war with Germany
is to impose upon them and the very
real danger that they may, almost
certainly will, face in the near fu-
ture unless they at once devote to
that task all that they have OF
strength, intelligence. ingenuity cour-
age. natural wealth and last but not
least patriotic unselfishness.
Washington newspaper writers and
the editors hack home have carried
the voluntary censorship idea TO keen
military secrets from the enemy that
they have leaned over backward.
The mere suggestion from any Off
oial that this or that information
might I've of value to the enemy has
Been sufficient to suppress news
which it was vital for the public to
know. and the publication 81 which
cculi by no possible stretching of
the imagination interfere with the
military efficiency of the Nation.
Speed Imperative.
The cumulative enect of al nt this
supia cssiOn of news has heea TO ere
ate IN the public mind pic.i,i9 Of
the relation of this country to the
world war which is extctly the OPP
posite OF the picture that ought to
be here, that must be here, ii we
are to do our part in the war with
the speed aud efficiency that we must
do il if disaster that impends is to
be avoided.
eve entered the war to make the
world safe for democracy; we must
nOw fight in the fields, IN the iac-
tories. ia the trenches to defend our
Nation. our homes and our families
against Germany. For German
victory over England and France is
not only a possibility but prObabil-
ny unless American help in food and
ships and men can be sent TO Europe
in much greater y.lsme and in short
or time than the present Organiza-
ton al the country agricuiturally,
induSriaily and militarily will make
possible, Aud a German victory oy-
or England and Fsance within tho
next six months or "A year would
mean that this country, half prepsr-
Cd, would have TO surrender abject-
~ and pay tens of billions OF dollars
10 the T'russian war lords, and for.
ever after be subjected to their tyr
amy. or fight Germany for years,
probably on our own soil at such cost
of blood and wealth as would make
the presest war in Europe seem small
by comparison"
Not A,srmist.
| have quoted the above from a
Issn in Washington who knows as
much II not B0re about every phase