The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-11-15
AMERICA LEARNED LESSONS
FROM FAILURES OF EUROPE
(By United Press. }

Wy = = S'S't
. Washington, Nov. 15.-America's
success in the world was has been
made possible as much by Workmen
at home as by soldiers in France.
America was confronted by a
tremendous task when the conflict
with Germany became inevitable
The supplies the allies had required
in the years since 1914 had necessi-
tated considerable readjustment Of
labor and commerce in the United
States, but with actual participation
in the conflict much greater changes
had to be made The work Of AmeTi-
can laborers in producing food, mu-
nitions, and clothing enough for their
own eountrymen and the allies as
well is one OF the greatest perfor-
mances Of the war, or indeed in his
tory of all time. IT has been made
possible largely by careful organiza-
ton of the n tion's man-power, in
order that every ounce OF strength
could be employed to best advantage.
The United States employment SER
vice last June was entrusted with the
great task Of modifying and distri-
buting labor. Something of the kind
was absolutely necessary, for with
out unified arrangements for obtain
ing the help needed for war produce
ton industrial life in America would
have been chaotic,
The experience OF European coun-
tries had illustrated how essential is
perfect organization and co-ordina-
rf1 q hrr no ri CtnnApgfH1
prosecution OF a war which places
practically whole nations in arms.
In the wars Of the past, industrial
life at home went on without any
considerable interruption; the armies
in the field were ordinarily not so
large that they could not live on the
country if they were forced to dose
New World Aspect.
With the SummOnlng OF millions OF
men to the colors by all the belli-
gerent nations, however, the world
war of 1914 quickly took on quite
different aspect. The withdrawal OF
all these men from industry proved
a tremendous shock to the economic
life Of every nation.
Germany probably was best pre-
pared for the great change, for the
possibility of summoning most OF the
man-power of the nation into warfare
had been considered more thoroughly
than elsewhere. % }a
France and England, it soon be-
came apparent, had made serious mis-
takes. In France, large numbers OF
skilled munition workers were called
into the army, and they suffered tre-
mendous losses when the Germans
overran Belgium and northern
France Munitions output was slow
ed up, and only by the most heroic
exertions were the French finally able
to turn back the enemy at the Marine.
Eventually, the skilled machinists
were called back into the factories,
where they could be of much better
service than even in the frst-line
trenches.
England had similar experiences.
In the patriotic zeal of thousands to
enlist, for the voluntary system was
retained in England for about three
years, little attention was paid to
the retention on essential jobs OF men
whose places hardly could be filed.
The consequence was that railroad
workers, miners and machinests went
into the army by thousands and that
England's productive capacity was
crippled seriously Only this year
England was forced to withdraw 10,-
0G0 miners from the army in France,
in order that they might maintain
the fuel supply of the British Isles.
=. Americas q fferant Plan.
America was able to profit by theGe
mistakes of the allies, and from the
START organized war program on the
basis OF highest efficiency. The coll
lapse Of Russia, shortly after Afleri-
ca entered the war, afforded still an
other object lesson. ~. g f. 4r.s>' "-',@
Rus&ia's collapse, it appears very
definitely established, was due less to
a weakening of the morale at the
trout than to trouble at home.
b. e Known OF the nations industrial
lie WIS reflected quickly in morale
OF the troops, however The whole
War hes Illustrated the fact that it
il the haIre ARMY that breaks first. ii
quick military victory is not OBJ
tainabfe. Russia collapsed because
the Russian people could do nothing
more TO carry on the war Italy was
in grove danger of disaster because
of industrial difficulties. Bulgaria
and Turkey quit the war while both
countries had large armies in the
field, simply because the home front