American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-06-18
OUR PROGRESS IN PREPAREDNESS

The necessities and misfortunes of
this year seem In a fair way TO make
US perhaps more humble in. and GER
tainly more useful to, the cause of
civilization next year.
Our ideas of the size of the army
which We intend TO send abroad have.
under pressure, steadily grown. The
discussion OF whether We could send
half a million men In 1913 has chang
ed to whether we ought not to get a
million and a half there in 1913. The
picture which W. have of the army to
go In 1919 Is two or three times what
Il used to be, and II we are wise we
shall keep right on enlarging our vi
sion and accomplishment just as fast
as an all-wise Providence will allow
us to stretch our minds.
Also It turns out that once n
WINGED OF the necessity Of sending
men abroad. the former insuperable
shipping problem does not continue
TO be insuperable. Not so very long
ago We we're under the impression
that we were about to eradicate the
submarine and build ships faster than
the dwindling fleet OF U-boats could
sink them. Until that was done. we
we're assured that there wasn't much
use OF preparing a very large army
because Il could o be transported.
Now we are confronted with the fact
that we have not eradicated the u
boats, nor have we been building as
much tonnage as they have been sink
-. - - H.. 49,. - .nn - .An nc
sures us that the men are going and
going fast.
Moreover, the shipping situation
shows signs OF improvement. We are
now putting into the water a quarter
of a million tons a month. The FIRST
three months of the ear were below
this amount but the latter part of the
year should more than make up for
this 80 that we should be able to count
upon from 3 million to S1s million tons
for 1918 with perfect safety, especial
~ since the appointment OF Mr..
Schwab as director general of the
emergency fleet corporation. With
the British building a minimum OF Ia
million tons We should be In a fair
way TO hold our own especially as the
U-boats have not had any tremendous
drives such as in%augurated the ruth
less campaign In the spring OF 1917,
As a matter OF fact. the situation is
even better than this. The United
states Communicated some 20 Dutch
ships OF an average or about 1000
tons. or altogether, nearly 300. 900 tons.
We have also gotten some ships from
Japan. These acquisitions do not in
crease the total tonnage afloat but
they do increase our facilities. Here
again the Frightening prospect should
be used only as a spur TO Dur endeav-
or. for only by an increase in vision
and performance 50 rapid that Ger
many can not meet IL a We hasten
the day OF victory.
We have a fairly accurate picture
OF our shipping progress. The rate
Of progress in the manufacture OIL
small arms. artillery. and munitions
however, is not well known. We are
not now contributing u part OF these
things 70 the common army under
General Foch's command. and witr
the loss OF the 1000 guns which the
British suffered this spring, the strain
|, upon the French aud British resources
must be severe. The failure OF oul
airplane program TO materialize this
, year will likewise cost our common
army many casualties. But unless ",
|, make the same mistakes twice over
E next year must see us with guns anC
aircraft enough from American fac
{ tories 10 give the allied forces a greaI
and permanent superiority in boil
branches. II Is as inconceivable tina
We shall not accomplish this result II
two years as il would have been graf
Z flying II We had done il in Is months
We ar not help looking with grea
humility upon Our war record so far
but there seems also reason TO hop
= that with our increasing realization o
the task We may take a more prope
! part OF the burden Of saving c~iyiliza
ton Ia i919.-Worlds Work.
a.. a. H-f