Life — May 3, 1917 — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MAY 10, 1917. “* While there ts Life there's Hope” VOL. 69 No. 1802 Published by LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY J. A. Mitcuctt, Pres’t. AY by day through this bleakish spring the winter of our discontent is edging along towards glori- ous summer. As we write, the conscription bill is on its triumphant way through Congres: and Marshal Joffre is expected to visit New York. To the Marshal all best compliments ! If there is anything here that is not his, it is something hidden. To him and M. Viviani Washington gave a glo- rious reception’ that obviously warmed their good hearts. The same, or more so, awaits them wherever they go. Chicago is in a state of political mu- tiny because she has a misfit mayor who wishes to balk her disposition to elcome Joffre. Our mayor has no such purpose. To all the envoys of the Allies our city’s arms and heart are open. In Joffre we see incarnate the heroic France that saved Europe from Ger- man domination, and our United States from an inevitable struggle to hold its birthright in the western hemisphere. It behooves us, as we welcome him, to give thought not only to what the France he stands for has done for Eu- rope, but what she has done for us. If the Prussian dream had been realized, of dealing once for all with France so that she would never again make trou- ble for Germans, these preparations for war, which now engross our thoughts and some of our energies, must have been started, if they could have been, two years and a half ago. Would that A. Mutts, Sec’y end Treas. 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York English Offices, Rolls House, Breams Bldgs., London, E. C. they had been started then! Never- theless, we shall do it more easily and unanimously now, much better and less wastefully let us hope, and certainly with far less internal tumult. Just as she won for England time to prepare, so France has won for us the much longer interval permitted to Germany to bring us as a nation to the mental fighting point. Now that, at last, we have been brought to it, we can see Marshal Joffre in his true dimensions —a figure that stands as no one else can for the heroic France that has stood between us and all we stand for and the Germans. We hope now to do something for ‘ance that is important. A vast serv- ice it must be to be proportionate to what she has done for us and for de- mocracy. We have done something all along even as a nation. Besides that, many of us as individuals have done all they could; many have given, many have worked, and some have died, and they have by no means done it in vain. But what has been done is a mound, and what remains to do is a mountain. To rouse us to move that mountain and help us to get about it is what Joffre is here for now. To everyone who sees him he must be an inspira- tion. To everyone he must seem to say: I stand, I speak for France who is dying to save the world, and who looks now to you to button on your khaki and come and help her. There cannot come from the Amer- ican throat but one response to that. We are coming, Marshal Joffre, not as fast as we wish to, but coming. Soon we shall have a million men in training, and more to follow. And im- mediately food, and soon more ships to carry it,-and money at once to grease all the wheels of war. We are coming with all we have, with all we can do. We are late, heaven knows. We are lamentably slow. We are so unready in some things that we dare not talk about it. But in much we are ready now, and in all things we are coming, Marshal Joffre, we are coming. 'HE French envoys say send some troops soon, and let their’ final training be done on French soil and in touch with the French front. We are told that the business of fighting has so changed in this war that previ- ous training would have been largely futile if our soldiers had had it. The French want men, physically fit, organ- ized, equipped and ready for work, and they want them to come in compara- tively small bodies, and to start as soon. as possible. The Colonel has not withdrawn his appeal to be sent in the first squad. Neither has his desire been conclusive- ly refused. Congress has considered it; the Senate favorably, the House otherwise. The administration has doubtless talked it over with the en- voys. ° When the conscription bill has been perfected, and the big army really begins to come in sight, we may expect this matter of the expeditionary force to be settled. The Colonel is believed to be the best recruiter in the country. He could probably get more volunteers than any- one else, and he is-a good hand to make drafted men (when we get any) go about their business with rejoicing. As a psychological force to get ginger into military mobilization, he may be very useful. We all want to see him used, and used to the best advantage. For our part, we expect ‘to see him in France not later than August, and to hear his voice calling over the cable: “ Come in, boys, the water's fine.” At