Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-04
JUST SURPRISING

Just suppose that the United States had, started in
this war earlier. It was not done. and that part Of it is
all over. but just supposing.-
Germany is not yet beaten. but her defeat is inev-
table. The tide has turned against her, and it will never
flow for her again. The change came with the appear
ance Of American troops on the scene. aThesearly spring
weeks Of 1913 were the most fateful of ALL Through
their success in bringing about the collapse Of Russia,
the Germans were at the summit of their power. They
had marshaled on the western front forces which far
cutnun ] cred those Of the Allies in that field and they
were able to force their way. first here and then there.
until 1t appeared that they were able to advance almost
at will. The Allies fought eamely, but the task taxed
them to the utmost In the knowledge that aid was on
the way they put forth a superhuman effort and held
the Germans back untl the scales were turned by the
arrival of Americans. How long they could have held
out had it not been for the Americans it is impossible
to tell. It - within tho possibilities that the determine
tion Of the, Allies might have carried them even through
the defeats which they faced until. through years of
struggle, they would still be able to save themselves and
the world. That does not change the fact that it was the
speeding up Of the American preparations that saved the
day. X -%<
What II We had gone in at the very beginning, chal-
longing the Teutons the moment Serbia was assailed and
Belgium raided?'
One may extend the field Of speculation to a period
long before the war and imagine the United States as a
nation already equipped for war; but let it be supposed
that the war had found US as we were. and that we had
then gone in and speeded up as we have done since.
What would have been the effect?
We could have thrown a million men into France
during the first year Of the war. while the Germans were
still busy on the Russian front That would have meant
In all probability that force. with the men
who would have FOLLOWED Immediately. would have turn
cd the scale Of battle and brought Germany to her Knees.
There would not have been time for Germany to engi-
have been given by successes in the west the Russians
almost certain that the war could not have lasted two
italian fiasco. no submarine warfare. During the past
as best it might. the wounds which it had sustained, in
stead Of suffering still others.
AZ we look back now 1t appears certain that the i'm
mediate participation Of the United States in the war
would have shortened ttHy years, and would have saved
myriads Of lives and untold misery.
That we did not do this is not to be charged to the
president or to CONGRESS-. Perhaps criticism is due them;
but the main responsibility. whatever II is, rests on the
American people. It took nearly three years for us to
realize that the war. aside from injuries and indignities
which We ourselves had suffered, was any Of our bust
ness. 1t would be unfair to say that we were so stepped
In commercialisna that we could appreciate nothing else,
but we had 80 long been accustomed to our continental
Iisolations and to our freedom to 90 our own way unno-
Ilested, that It took time and some very shocking exper-
fences TO make us understand that We had common In
ltcreFts with the rest Of humanity. It il, costing MS some
thing TO learn the lesson. May We not FORGET Il.