Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-06
THURSDAY. JUNE &. 1918
The War is Surely With Is.


Most exciting have been the occur
rences of the week ON tins side of tie
Atlantic Ocean We thought We realized
the stern fact that We were actually
engaged in the war when We began to re-
ccive reports from abroad of the effective
participation of American soldiers IN tue
battles on French and Flanders soil with
the German enemy But We did not.
except 10 an ordinary extent The greater
measure Of interest here was that maNi-
tested by those who had sons or dear
friends engaged in the contests. Tie rest
OF MS watched affairs abroad with in'cltst,
thankful when We received oti'clal at'-
ncirnccmcnt of the safe arrival ~ hoaf-
loads OF American soldiers at foreign
ports
BUT how different now Monday morn-
ing the cntro country was stunned IN
reports Of German U-boatS engaged ln
active and vcIous assaults upon o'r
merchant vessels along he Atiantic coast
In our own State We uero almost over
whclmcd with the information of -hoat
attacks upon vessels OF the Delaware
CapcS. Survivors from ono large Stcan-
ship that was DESTROYED landed on Della
ware soil. AT l.cwcS after terrible prlvH-
tions in an open boat II sea and - they
came up tho State hy tram. many persons
had visible evidence II the presence Of The
war in our midst Tho sound Of guns. aS
our naval chascrS promptly pursued The
enemy. reverberatcd on the shores oi
Sussex county And our naval operations
were continuous all along the coast, from
Norfolk 10 New York The situation W
lainly in evidence.
But for all We were interested. even
astoundcd. the temper Of the people has
been admirable There has been no ap-
p.oach to "A panic The spirit that was
most prominent was q determination 20
fight The enemy and beat him There was
a feeling oi confidence that our navy units
now at home are equal 70 the task. And
no doubt they are That We viii continUe
to pay toll to- the undcrsea enemy possibly.
a heavy toll. Is not doubted But that IS
one OF the penalties oi war In the end.
and that will not be far distant, We shall
triumph With his advantage Of having
been able to make his initia! moves with
The effectiveness that GENES from secrecy
the enemy was able to do great daragc
in his first assaults But now has primary
purpose will be To cvade destruction or
capture, and he cannot roam the seas Al
will, ravaging our entire coast with
III punity-
This means that the enemy Will be de
feated in his main purpose, TO create
such a scare as will put n stop to The
expectation of troops, munitions and
supplies to the aid of our soldiers and our
Allies abroad This service will be con
tinued, as We have ample convoys lor
purposes Of protection And II may he
depended upon that We will either destroy
these German undersea intruders or drive
them from our vicinity.
Other potent evidences are at hand to
bring the hard facts Of war on this side Of
the Atlantic home TO us. The draft regis
tratlOn of young men who have during
the past wear attained the age Of majority
was conducted Yesterday, and very sue
cessfulIy This means the addition Of a
large contingent to the great army We are
now forming for the crushing Of the Hun.
Before the year ends, many of these new
registrants will be in France, in good
fighting condition.
Meanwhile, the situation in Europe is
daily growing more encouraging. The
great German drive has been checked
Soon it may change into a drive by the
Allies And the continual arrival Of rein
forcements from our country will make
an Allied drive successful.
les, We know at last. here at home,
that we are actually in the war And we
Will stay in the war until victory attends
our righteous cause.