Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-04-26

steadily and rapidly moving up to
their assigned positions. and the news
that more and more Of them were be-
ing hurried across the Atlantic was
greeted with enthusiasm by the Brit
Ish and French officers and men. They
are needed, and needed quickly, for the
allied commanders, though believing
their lines cannot be broken. know the
enemy Is still very strong, and I'M
doubtedly Is gathering his strength for
further tremendous efforts. While he
well might be held by the allied forces
now there, he can only he crushed and
driven back when they have been
greatly REINFORCED by the boys from
America.
Moreover, the commanders Of the
allies say no greater mistake could be
made than to think this IL the final
battle. Even II II can be called de-
cisive. II Is absolutely essential that
the United States send over all Its men
as quickly ms possible, that all possible
eventualities may he faced and the
right kind Of a victory ultimately en-
forced.
That this Is the view Of Secretary
Of War Baker also Is made plain In
his report to the president. made on
his return last week from Europe. In
a sentence this was that the United
States must furnish the strength that
Will crush Germany. and must furnish
II at once. n Mr.. Baker ever thought
the war was 1900 miles away" his
trip abroad has cured him Of that de-
fusion. There IL now no warmer nd
vocate Of the policy Of giving force,
precision and rapidity to American nc
tivitles, and on his own behalf and
that of his department he pledged bet
ter results In hurrylng men and NUM-.
lions to the fighting front.
As for the American troops now In
France, Mr.. Baker had nothing but
praise for their condition and their
military qualities. They have made
good In every way, he said. Those
same troops during the week had op-
portunlty to show the stuff they were
made Of, for several times the Ger
mans made fierce attacks In the Toul
sector. Each time they were repulsed,
and the Yankees went into the fray
with n Joy that did the hearts Of their
officers good. Their bravery, GOODNESS
and efficiency were So general that
their commanders had difficulty In
picking out any men for especial com
mendatlon.
The evident and urgent need for
more soldiers helped to hasten Lloyd
Georges man-power bill through par
Lament, despite the opposition caused
by the clause applying CONSUMPTION to
Ireland. The government also pre-
pared to introduce Its home rule bill
| which II announced II would pass or
fall in the attempt. There was con
siderable dissatisfaction In England
over the fact that the British In F'land.
ers were so badly outnumbered by the
Germans, and the blame, n any, was
not placed, there were insistent calls
for the return of Sir William Robert
son to the position Of chief of the I'M
perInl general staff. On Thursday
Vlscount Miner was made secretary
Of state for war. the earl Of Derby be-
coming ambassador to France.
Ia
Since II Is still evident that ships
will win the war" and that America
must supply most Of the ships, our
national shipbulldlng agencies were
reorganized last week for the NTH
time and Charles NJ. Schwab. chair
man Of The hoard Of directors OF the
Bethlehem Steel corporation. was civ.
en- the new position Of director general
Of shipbuidIng and placed In supreme
| control Of the construction OF mer-
1
chant vessels. Chairman Hurley of
the shipping hoard and General Man
ager piez will work In complete har-
mony with him. directing the organi-
zatIon necessary to carry out his
plans. The necessity for some such a
step was shown by the official an
nouucement Of the change, which
said. "The carrying forward of the
construction work In the 100 ship
yards now In operation Is so bad that
II requires reinforcement OF the
shipbuilding organization throughout
the country" The determination to
speed up shipbulldng was evidenced
by the warning issued by Mr.. Hurley
that delinquent plants will he taken
over by the government unless they
show decided Improvement
Id
The British admiralty report showed
Is British vessels sunk by submarines
during the previous week, II of them
being 1000 tons or over.
On Monday British warships encoun-
tered feet of German armed trawl-
ers In the Kattegat and sank ten Of
them, the nearby German naval forces
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simultaneously the manufacturing