Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-04-02
THE YEARS REVIEW.

niversary of President Wilson'S request
for war on Germany, great part of
the world struggle, with remarkably
vast record of achievement.
More thousands of men are now in
France than army men year ago
dreamed could be put there; American
naval vessels, cruising the submarine
zone, are doing their bit-and big
one to stamp "schredcklichkeit" out
of the world a vast army has been
trained and is now being seasoned;
another is about ready to enter camps;
American war wheels are whirring,
grinding out ships, guns, shells, rails
tremendous stream of material to
back a growing, enthusiastic army,
And, there is abroad in the land a
war spirit deepseated and fervent, a
spirit born of the realization that Ger
many is now controlled by militaristic
piunderers, who in their madness are
stretching forth their CORY hands to
crush the weak and the strong and
make the world unfit and unsafe for
democracy,
Some of Americas mighty task is
still in the making. There have been
and still are delays in war work. Some
Of our expectations were exploited too
boldly, and there are disappointments
ahead.
But, all in all, the conversion of the
country from a peaceful land TO the
biggest single reservoir of strength TO
back Up the Allies has been glory
of progress upon which history will
doubtless look with praise.
Voluntary censorship forbids that
the press shall indulge in figures re-
vealing the number of forces abroad.
But it is recalled today that Secretary
of War Baker predicted 100000 men
in France ''early in 1918," and it is
known that troop and supply transport
while hampered during the coolest
weather, have been maintaining a pre-
arranged schedule recently. For some
time, American forces have had a part
in the Lorraine fighting, and their
work has shown that America will new,
er need to have other than pride in
the men she is sending forth to war.
Valor, vigor, and an enthusiastic eager
ness have marked each encounter with
the Hun.
While a portion of the overseas force
has been fully seasoned for front line
service, considerable force is still
training behind the lines.
In this country, the camps and can,
tonments have ground out their men
until now second draft call is immi-
nent. The last increments of the first
draft are still training, and the second
call will be for 100000 men.
The pacifist has been driven, skulk-
ing, to obscurity. While the nation
has sought to gain separate peace
with Austria through a political of
fensive, there is now no peoce talk
The Russian collapse, followed by Ger
many's robbing of the corpse, showed
her without mask-a nation bent on
conquest
This has done much to cement the
American people into a stern determi-
nation to fight on vigorously. 1t has
stirred up war industry and war train
ing
The War Department has passed
through many tribulations, and Con-
gress has raked it thoroughly over the
Goals. The result has been that a re
organization, started before Congress
undertook its probe, has been contem-
plated and now the departmental
wheels run smoothly and with more
vigor than before. Chief of staff
March has pumped pep into the or
ganization. Younger men are at the
helm. Chiefs such as General Goe-
thals, quartermaster, have important
posts.