The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-06

or the country crowded into al Tho government, acting under se- cretly pre-afTaneed plans, seized German ships In American ports and rounded up Fifth Column suspects although that name for the enemy within was as unknown then as the word NaEi.
 At 2:4b o'clock in the morning the House of Representatives, after nearly iT hours of oratory, adopted resolution of war which had been voted in the Senate two days before. The Senate vote on the declaration was e2 to c; the house vote 37S to 80.
 President wilson and his war lenders immediately asked s3,000,- 100000 for on army of 0 million men and within Q few hours after the houses adoption of the war declara- ton, the senate had voted It's first Si00,000,000 war credit c mere drop in the bucket of war costs that were to total nearly S22,000,00 900 before victory came io months later.
 America Turned Tide
 Aside from her vast resources and potentialities of mobilization and production, the United states was ill-prepared in April of 1917 to plunge into the war forced upon this country by Germany's arrogant and wanton destruction Of American ships and lives.
 We had on army of only 100000 men; m entire system Of drafting the nations naanpower had to be set tip. Ships had to be acquired for the transport of troops, munitions and supplies overseas, not only for the American forces but for our al- lies.
 But before tho armistlce of Nov. ii, 1918, ended the struggle Amer lean strength had turned the tide 10 victory.
 Meusc- -ArgOnne Battle
 More than 4,800,000 fighting men were nobilized, 100000 Of them army doughboys, and of these B. 086.000 went overseas cockily sing ing We won't be back 'til It's over over there"
 Of the 2086,0O0 men who went to France not ono lost his life to enemy U-boat or naval attacks en route, so well did the Navy perform its task Of convoy,
 War Department records show that l,300,0O0 American soldiers fought on the battlegrounds Of France, participating in l3 battles il 200 days,
 Ire greatest battle of tho dough. boys was one that will live forever in stories of valor, the 47-day bate tie of Mcuse- -Argonne. There were 100000 Americans in that battle whose purpose, according to Gen. John J. Pershing, was to "draw the best German divisions to our front and consume them"
 Tho Decisive Battle
 Every available American soldier was thrown against the Germans in the struggle ranking among the great battles of history and by far the biggest ever participated in by American forces.
 The Mouse -Argonne broke the back of the German Army. In many respects it was similar 10 the Civil War battle Of the wilderness.
 There were other great battles to attest the vaior of American arms the five great German drives Of 1918 which the Kaiser hoped would break the Allied line and end the war--and the Allied Champagne Marne drive, the SoinTne. the Oise- Rheims, Yprea-Lys, Meuse-A Argonne st. Mihiei. In addition, American troops participated in the battle Of VIttorio-Vcneto from Oct. 24 to Nov, 4 1918. on the side Of the Italians who were then one Of the Allies in- stead Of the battered. disilluSioned satellite of Germany they are today.
 42 Divisions Sent Abroad
 Tn the official summaries Of the United States role in World War No. 1, American deaths are listed as 60,000, while 230,00O were wound- cd and O6,00i died from other cauS. eB
 TWO out of every three American soldiers who reached France took part in battle, % out Of 42 divisions sent abroad.
 Here are some other American contributions to the victory over Germany and her allies in World War No. 1: The cargo fleet that transported the American army and it's supplies and arms to France totaled 2y000,- 600 tors, carrying 7,6OO,0oo tons Of cargo.
 American supplies such aB 10000 trucks and i,b00 miles of railroad track reached the Allied forces in constant flow.
 Built Planes, Engines
 The United States produced B. 600,O0O rifles and 227,O00 machine guns and shipped 1900 ,0O0,0 900 rounds Of rifle ammunition Oyer- seas, Also produced were more than $500 artillery pieces for the French battlefrontg.
 When the United States entered the war she had 6D training planes --ail but four Of which were obso- Iete. By the end Of the war U. g. plants had produced more than g.. 900 training planes and 10O00 eTl- zines, 3JR27 bombing planes of which 1885 went overseas and 14,647 of the famous i2-cylinder Liberty efi- gineS.
 An official report Of the war de- partment in commenting upon American production said;
 Co far aS the Allies were con. cerned the European war was ifi c large measure fought with Aineri- can powder and high explosives" Taken Of Guard
 The United States role iTl World War NO. was made difficult by the tact ElaAt-as in the cast Oi Japanb sneak etaek on Pearl Har. bOF--.it was plunged into the TiiaeI. tsinity really tO begin ii1tsteFing ita strength.
 TtIs was due to uermanyis wayG aU Az aA--na A. A