Evening star., 1918-05-19
AMERICAS PART IN THE WAR
Progress in Week just Ended Toward
Making the World Safe for Democracy
BY SHELDON 8. CLINE

using strong and picturesque Ian
guage, but outside observers are
being forced to the conclusion that
Mr.. Hughes will have to look else
where than to Mr.. Borglum for evil
dence which would be accepted in a
court of law.
No one any longer attempts to
claim that all is we'll with the air
craft production program. but the
public is beginning to be more than
little weary of charges and counter
charges. There will be very general
satisfaction II those responsible today
for the program will get ahead with
it, leaving to Judge Hughes and the
Department Of Justice officials the
task Of bringing to book any wrong
doers of the past.
Country Given a Shock.
The country was given a shock
early in the week by what purported
to be an official announcement from
that American troops were not to be
used on the battle front in Europe
until they had become a complete
and self-supporting force"
Prompt denials by Lord Reading.
the British ambassador here, and by
avowal from London, served to save
a situation calculated to cause genu-
inc alarm to those responsible for the
conduct of the war.
How such a statement found its way
into an official dispatch from the
colonies to the prime minister Of
Canada is mystery which has not
been explained, but had the feat been
achieved by an agent of the German
government he certainly would have
been rewarded by bucketful of iron
crosses.
With the country approaching full
speed ahead. after a year spent in the
gaining of momentum, no more ef-
fective monkey-wrench could have
been thrown into the war-makinE
machinery than announcement that
tie was to be delayed until some in
definite day. There is agreement in
the opinion that Lord Reading never
will have opportunity to render his
government and the one to which he
is accredited higher service than he
rendered by his prompt reputation
OF the report from Ottawa.
Country in Fighting Mood.
Evidence that American troops are
to be used without waiting on any
thing other than for the enemy to
regain his stomach for a fight came
later in the week in the announce
ment that units Of them had arrived
on the British front in Flanders. a
part Of the battle line upon which
United States soldiers have not pre-
viously been employed.
Such news IL welcome in this coun-
try. 1t is welcome to the people be-
cause they believe that the sooner the
greatest possible number of Ameri-
cans are face to face with the Huns
the sooner the war will end And It Is
welcomed by the government because
1t stimulates the war spirit, speeds
up industry. increases purchases of
liberty bonds and war savings stamps,
multiplies subscriptions to the Red
Cross and other war service agencies.
1t may be true that year ago many
Americans found comfort in the be-
lief that England and France would
whip Germany before Americon boys
actually were called upon to face the
battle test. but II there is any such
belief today 1t finds lodgment only in
feeble intellects. Great as has been
Americas material preparation for
participa tion in the conflict, its spirit
ual preparation has been vastly
greater. The absence Of this spiritual
preparation for war depressed British
and French visitors a year ago. Today
they find in it's presence and complet-
ness the greatest assurance of fnal
victory.