The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-02-05
U. S. DEVELOPS BIG PUNCH
To Bring End VI War In i9is-Amer-
leans, Fighting In France To be
Backed 20 the Limit.

WhbHihb'ohg HNpiuuiy Inv S'''
ed States today Is developing It's great
est punch In the world war.
Americans are now pitted, man to
man, against the Germans along a
section OF the Lorraine front, meeting
steel with steel
The allied council at Versailles has
rounded out definite plan OF coop
Grafton by which the American and
allied war chiefs will meet Won Hert-
longs peace camoufage with the
thunder OF increasing guns.
Throughout the nation today this
government is registering aliens
names, ancestry, business, tumb prints
and the like as a precautionary mea-
sure preliminary to what Is to be the
crucial effort in the great war.
There are to be no halfway meas
ures. Neutrals may expect sharp
measure when they are deemed vital
to this country's success.
New evidence Of grim determine
ton to end the struggle in 1918 or
soon after by making a herculean eff
fort this year is manifest on all sides.
Once more 1t is felt the develop
ments have swung back out of the
hands of the diplomats and into the
hands of the military.
The allied war council has said in
answer to Hertling:
Until you come from behind your
mask We must go ahead"
And working to that end, complete
agreement is reported on plans for
the conduct of the war.
The military chiefs of the United
States and the allies will be giver
wide authority to act without delay
ing any vital move for reverence to
and approval by home governments
The casualty lists of Americans dy-
ing on the field of battle in almost
daily clashes with the Germans hai
brought home to this country the real
ization that our participation in the
war is now in deadly earnest.
And while thus for fortune has re
manned at the side of the transports
officials point out that any day ma!
see one lost. the victim of U-boat
that has eluded the American guard.
The kaiser's papers have scoffed
at the American soldier. They have
laughed at our officers, men uron
whom" they say, Secretary Baker
has sewed epaulets."
But these men, after months of pa
tient training, are answering the Ger
man fire in front-lne trenches with
great American guns today.
Ships continue pressing need. The
Germans are sinking vessels on an av-
erage of over 100000 tons, a year, ac-
cording to figures compiled here.
But it is now deemed unlikely
America can contribute more than
100000 tons this year, although e
n. Hurley, chairman of the Shipping
Board, is still confident of 100000
tons.
The shipping lack, however, has
compelled sharp measures with neu-
trails.
Already Holland has agreed to turn
over a percentage of all her cargoes
to Belgium relief supplies, that other
ships may be released from this work
Negotiations are pending with
Spain to insure safe shipment and
delivery across her borders of other
supplies needed by the American army
in France.
Pending adjustment Of this, Spanish
ships continue held up in American
harbors.
The American embargo will be en-
ployed ruthlessly when needed. The
great punch must be developed this
year, President Wilson says. Ameri-
ca will turn every weapon to accom-
oil, ,,nnnt of thic and