Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-06-21

Ing the MdrnS OFFENSIVE. Z@IultlnS
ilor proudly escorting German U-boat
France. A day or so before he stated
that more than 100000 had disembark-
ed on French soil. An English CORE
spondent at the front asserts hat the
American army Is prepared, If neces-
sary, to make a greater sacrifice than
that involved In the brigading of Amer
lean troops with the British and
French. This cryptic statement may
mean that If the plans of the allies de-
mand it the Yankee troops will be sent
to the fighting front almost immediate
ly on arrival in France, without wait
ing for the preliminary training they
have been receiving back of the lines.
So far only a few of the Americans
have been used In the real fighting, and
in operations relatively small. AS the
conflict has changed its character, be-
coming more open, 1t may be the Amer
leans are considered fit to take part
/ after their training in this country.
la
Several important probabilities con-
corning the National army came to the
fore last week. Representative Kahn
said the war department intends to ask
congress at the winter session to amend
the draft law to include all men be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty
nine. Provost Marshal General Crow
der decided to recommend the exemp-
ton of professional ball players until
the end Of the season. Director Cen
eral McAdoo asked the exemption Of
all railroad men, and the coal mine OPP
orators asked the same for miners
Ia
The comparative failure of the Ger
man drives so far, the splendid resist
ance made by the French and British
and the excellent showing made by
the Americans must net lead the
American people into a dangerous COM
placency and a feeling that 'ft is all
over but the shouting" Those who
know the truth realize that the war
is far from ended-may last four or
five years longer, indeed-and that
the future holds for us tremendous
sacrifices. We must put into its sue
cessful prosecution every ounce OF
energy we possess, ever as do our
fighting men on the other side of the
ocean. There is no doubt that the war
will be won finally by the forces OF
righteousness, but until it is won moth
ing else matters much but the winning
of 1t, for If it were not won, nothing
else would matter at all. The people
of Great Britain and of France real
lied this long ago, and the people OF
America must realize it o 1t can
not be too strongly urged upon them
that the man power of the central
nations Is still tremendous and that
they are still determined by every
means to force their will upon the rest
of the world. The British and French
troops, battered and wearied, doubt
less can hold the lines until the au-
tumn, but they look to our millions to
achieve the victory, and this they can
do only If they are given every pos
sible support by those who stay at
home. This will be given with a will
If only the people fully recognize the
seriousness of the situation and the
urgency of the demands on them.
Ia
Owing to the fact that the German
submarine raiders sank a number ct
vessels laden with sugar from Cuba
and to the interruption in the traffic
with the island caused by those opera
tons, Food Administrator Hoover has
asked that further restrictions be
placed on the sale and use of sugar
for a time. He also asks the people
to place themselves on a limited beef
allowance until September 1 next In
order that the needs of the soldiers
and civilians in France, Great Britain
and Italy may be supplied.
IA
Two great conventions opened in the
United States last week, and each did
its part in urging the carrying on OF
the war to victory. The first was that
of the American Federation of Labor
to which President Wilson sent a mes
sage making it clear that the workers
had it in their power to bring victory
or defeat. President Gompers' address
was a laundering defiance of the Huns
and during the week there were devel
opments hat showed the great major
lily of the delegates would not coun'
%tenance anything that saVored of dis
loyalty or even of undue pacifism.
In Chicago hundreds Of the mos
eminent physicians and surgeons OF
the country, together with some ia
nous ones from abroad, assembled fol-
the meeting of the American Medica
association. The address, the discus
sions and the work of these men were
almost wholly related to the war. ant
the words of the leaders were hearten