Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-04-03

patton in the World War Is drawing
| to q close. Always a peace-loving ma
ton, the United States for two years
and q half endured CALLING treatment
| by Germany in the hope of finding
| some way of maintaining peace with
honor. Germany's unlawful use Of
submarines and continued killing of
innocent American citizens finally led
to decisive action.
President Wilson on April End, 1917,
| felt compelled to lay before the Con-
gress the actions of Germany in the
| immediate past, which, in connection
with the whole trend of the war,
! seemed to indicate that the German
| government was determinedly and
stubbornly following out a policy Of
ruthlessness contrary to international
| law. No treaty obligations seemed to
| have any weight with the German
Emperor, and the solemn warnings
of America-the greatest neutral
country-were totally unheeded. The
| remarkable address OF President Will
sen included the following para
graph:
Right is more precious than peace,
and we shall fight for the things which
We have always carried nearest our
hearts-for democracy, for the tight
Of those who submit to authority to
nave u voice III stUS1I OWN SONSAh-
menfs, for the rights and liberties of
small nations, for a universal domin-
ion of right by such q concert of free
people as shall bring peace and safe
ty to all nations and make the world
itself at last free"
The German ambassador Bernstorff
was dismissed, and war declared with
Germany, though not with Austria
and the other Central Powers, on April
9Th, 1917. No preparation for war
had been made until this time, but the
machinery was Immediately set in
motion. On May 18th, Congress pass
ed the Selective Service Law, which
was proTntly approved by the Presi-
dent, and plans were made for the
selection and examination OF those
most fit. A ship building board was
organized, manufacturers of various
munitions and supplies were listed to-
experts in every phase Of military
operations were gathered together,
with the most renowned inventors
from civilian life. "A new engine was
designed for airplanes, and the con-
struction of large number of these
ships of the air begun. Within the
year seven billions of dollars have
been paid to the Government in two
Liberty Loans, and the third, equaling
that total viii be raised beginning
April 9Th Within that time twelve
billion dollars worth of insurance have
been taken by the soldiers Of the
United States army under the new
law allowing each soldier to sub
scribe at small expense for not to ex-
coed $4,000. Dependency laws pro-
vide for the immediate relatives Of
soldiers, and compensation laws pro-
vide Cor monthly payments in case OF
accident or disability
Shortly after the beginning of the
war orders were issued by the War
Department with regard to selling or
giving liquor to soldiers, and a pro-
tected zone Of five miles around mill
tary camps was authorize with a view
of preventing commercialized vice and
the sale of liquors. The manufactur-
of distilled liquor in the United States
was prohibited. Later the Congress-
passed bin providing for an amend
ment to the Constitution prohibiting
the sale OF any alcoholic beverage
within the United and it's possessions,
providing this amendment was rati-
fled according to constitutional pro-
visions within six years.
Not only was the seIective draft ac-
copied without any opposition, but the
people fell heartily in line with the re-
strictions placed upon them by the
Food Administrator. Greater Hdfu-
ships were occasioned by the rulings
of the coal dictator. partly because of
coal shortage in cold weather, and
partly because of the difficulties in
ties in transportation. The Govern
mentss control of the railroads was
put in the hands of the Secretary of
the Treasury. and the operation of the
railroads was made to serve military
necessities. Even the law for the con-
servation of an extra hour of daylight
was put into force as easily as turn
ing the page of a book.
Enemy aliens were hardly disturbed
In their relations during the year,
though a few outspoken Pro- German
lists were incarcerated. The Govern
ment took over all enemy shipping in
American ports, and near the close of
the first year of the war undertook to
sell some types of enemy property,
even though owned individually,
To be sure there has been some crit
icism of the administration by Con-
gress but Investigations as to the pur-
chase of supplies, the lack of mater
ials, the slowness in making prepara-
tiopc has 1ISlIally resulted In a fairly