The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-26


 is true that German morale is crack ing and breaking, it must be remem bsled that there yet remains to be done a most prodigious task.
 'The United States is fighting that the democracy of the world may be sasa for all coming generations. We cannot,
 therefore, accept warmed over, i,i. timed or hastily prepared peace. In ac- cordance with our programme, we must continue the battle until Russia is re stored, until France and England arc out of danger, and until the German nation is in such condition that it can i not become resuscitated within a sh irt | time to assail this country. In other words, according to the task we hav-
 cut out for ourselves. we must ro:ca | inc Kaiser to surrender-uneonditio Tt is safe to infer. therefore, that 1 the Kaiser will fight to the last ditch. 1 I believe we will be forced to drive his army out of France, across Belgium, | to Berlin and beyond. The federal army,
 drove General Lee beyond Richmond,
 and when General Lee surrendered-un-
 conditionally-he could not have done otherwise. He had 1900 electives, and
 was surrounded by a vigorous, well fed
 well equipped army of more than 10O,- ! 900 men. If we fulfill our mission to | the letter, we will force the Kaiser to surrender on our own terms l feel,
 therefore, that we will be compelled 10 fight for several years to come.'
 ONE EMPTY DREAM
 But, should the prediction of General |, March come true, everyone in authority | agrees that the idea which has taken 1 hold-that within short time American l wives and mothers will enfold return | ing heroes--is fallacious.
 | It was pointed out to this correspond l ent first, that the necessity for return
 ing the boys will not be acute, and | will not be of such nature that France
 or England will find 1t incumbent on them to aid in the undertaking; second- ly, that even with peace established, it is certain that this government will find it necessary in some more or less mild manner to police Europe-for the United States intends that the job be we'll and
 permanently done; and thirdly, that the simple transportation of 100000 men is within itself a prodigious job.
 It was regarded as a safe estimate
 that some years will eiapse following the
 conclusion of hostilities before the last
 American soldier has been returned r. the United States. In this connection it
 is recalled that for 10 years following the Civil war federal troops were main tained throughout the south. section ot the country aDSolutely neiplesS save lol it's inherent desire for death ratner thar infamy.
 TO RETAIN ARMY
 The opinion prevails, too. that thu United States having assumed the pro portion of a world power. will remain : world power A distinguished senato who does not as yet desire publicly |, : take this position, cited the following ] iquaint deduction: After the war some man will rise il 3 Congress and declare that inasmuch d : peace has been restored to the world the people of the United States shoui, l. not be required to bear the taxation in oident to the maintenance of larg standing army. And then some othe man will rise and remind the Congress that, with our entry into the European war, we were absolutely unprepared and therefore. helpless: that on account o that very reason our preparation wa 3 achieved at an expenditure enormousl, in advance of that which would hay ' been required under less stressful condi tions. This man will admit that tn storm has passed, but will ask: 'Shal we now destroy the stormpit which if