Evening journal., 1917-06-20
WARNS NATION TO
ORGANIZE FOR WAR
Long Struggle Ahead, Unless
America Hits Hard and
Quick, RotarianS Hear
ENGLISHMAN WOULD
LET ALL FACTS OUT
BY The United Press.


ATLANTA. Ga, June 20.-Amerlca
must awaken and organize for war on
an enormous scale. or face a long
period of CHASTITY fighting and world
wide suffering
This was tho message brought be-
fore the international Rotary Con-
vention here today by Fomeroy Bur
ton. manager and q director Of the
London Daily Mail and other British
papers.
by a long period ] mean from five
10 twenty years or more" said Bur
ton
Burton predicted That II America
doesn't wake up and strike hard and
quick, our own shores will be mem
aced
"Why does the average citizen fail
70 grasp the vital fact that ~ Ger
many should destroy the British fleet
or overthrow the massed forces OF the
Allies on the western front the re-
suit would be quick national death
for this greatest Of all the worlds
republics?' he asked.
The reasons for Americas strange
lethargy in the face of real national
danger are two-fold" he said.
First, the Allies policy Of close
censorship has resulted in keeping
tho full flow Of war facts and a rea-
sonable understanding Of the wars
developments from reaching the peo-
pie
Second, the attitude which. unfor-
tunately. was takon by leaders Of pub
lie opinion during the earlier stages
OF the war; that it was no concern OF
this country
"This attitude unquestionably served
TO create a sense OF entire Indifference
to the war Issues in the mind Of the
American people generally"
For remedy, Burton urged that the
British censorship disclose the horror
OF German atrocities in Belgium and
elsewhere; and that the American gov
ernment put an efficient war press
agent az work in every city, town and
village in the land
"If there could be a radical revision
Of the French and British censorship
rules said Burton, permitting a
much freer flow OF all sorts of war
facts and war developments from the
fghting areas the effect. / feel sure,
would be enormously beneficial to the
allied fighting cause
would It not be the height Of wis
dom 10 reverse the policy which even
vet withholds from the world the full
truth about the incredible atrocities
IN Belgium atrocities which, II pos.
sibie. have been outdone in Roumania2
"An OF them would serve TO show
the people here what they might ex-
pectl IN the event of q German inva-
sion of the United States; what sort
OF en- enemy in fact We are hghting.
"Why not expose the fendish devil
try which caused thousands Of poison.
cd candies TO be dropped from Ger
man aeropianes for Roumanian chill
dren to pick up and eat?
"Why not the tragic story or how
the Queens little boy. her youngest
picked up one OF these poisoned
sweets In her garden, ate it. sickened
almost at once. lowered between life
and death for weeks and finally died
in her arms?
"This story was written by the
Queens own pen and sent to O lady
who has recently returned TO New
York. and who has the letter with
her now.
"Why not the shocking story OF how
brutal German soldiers forced gentle
Roumanian women 10 disrobe in pub
lie and then drove them in groups
through the streets?
"Why not, in another category,
those stories of thrilling heroism so
persistently concealed?
u firmly believe the response would
be electrical The American people
would rouse as one man to their task
Aired with patriotic fervor born of a
full and true understanding OF what
this war means to them and their fu.
ture"
After declaring that great masses
Of the population throughout the coun.
try are dangerously apathetic and OBJ
livious TO the acute peril which
threatens them Burton outlined what
The government can do 10 overcome
that:
"As for the censorship in Amer
lea. establish a censorship board OF
five newsrapermen. with consultins
military and naval advisers. and pro
ceed upon that broad and simple