May 19, 1916. 
Tur Unrrep States GOVERNMENT has a case against 
Great Britain to which President Wilson is now address- 
ing himself. Sometime ago he warned the British gov- 
ernment through our representative. The negotiations 
were not continued because of the seriousness of the 
German American diplomatic problem. Now that is out 
of the way the United States will demand of Great Bri- 
tain more considerate treatment of our mails. The prob- 
lem is not simple by any means, but there do not lurk in 
it any serious possibilities. The issues will be readily 
adjusted and the good relations of the two countries wiil 
continue unaltered. 
THe ExcHANGE oF Noves between this government 
and Germany has practically ended and Germany has 
conceded the points demanded by President Wilson, It 
nas taken time, required much patience; but the Prest- 
dent has won his point, without this country being forced 
to sever diplomatic relations with Germany. ‘The situa- 
tion presented was the most serious diplomatic problem 
put up to any President since Lincoln and the President 
has been able to maintain the dignity of the nation, and 
save the laws of nations from being wrecked by German. 
submarines. Everyone is thankful at the turn of events. 
THE PREPAREDNESS MoveMENT has developed a tre- 
mendous momentum. last Saturday for hours the 
marchers were in line in New York city and the parade 
was declared a success. In Boston a week from tomor- 
row a similar parade will be held. The people are 
thoroughly aroused to the dangers of unpreparedness. 
If now the same enthusiasm could be aroused to prevent 
the development of the militaristic spirit the movement 
will have been truly successful. To arouse enthusiasm 
for preparedness and to avoid the dangers of militarism 
presents a problem for this generation. 
Tue BarrLE AROUND VERDUN rages, day after day 
and week after week, without any appreciable gains being 
made by the Prussian arms. No announcement of their 
ultimate purpose has been made and it is difficult to un- 
derstand the reason for the Prussian persistance at th‘s 
point. The lives lost have been great and the capture of 
Verdun itself does not appear worth it. 
to be the Dardanelles of the Prussians. 
Tur New York SupreME Courr has rendered a de- 
cision that will have a far reaching effect. A well known 
woman on alighting from a Pullman car in a station step- 
ped upon an icy platform, slipped and broke an ankle. 
She sued the Pullman Company and the railroad and lost. 
The Supreme Court declared that the defendants were 
not to be held responsible for conditions resulting from 
the weather. 
Desprte THE Fact that the interned German mer- 
chant marine would yield valuable prizes to this nation 
without the discharge of a gun the negotiations were 
maintained upon the high grounds of humanitarian 
rights. The United States government has not been seek- 
ing a quarrel, but has been seeking right for righteous- 
ness and peace. 
WHEN THE WaR Is Over and the story of the effort 
to take Paris is written a large place will be accorded to 
Russia. It was the sudden launching of the Russian army 
that assisted the French in their victorious stand at the 
Marne. 
Rumors oF PEAcE keep coming up in the despatches 
from across the ocean and “all Europe is talking peace.” 
There are, however, no signs of an immediate peace, alas! 
Verdun appears 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE and Reminder | 17 
‘PREPAREDNESS Has Founp its way into state legis- 
lation—notably in New York,” says The Outlook. “dhe 
legislature of New York State has adjourned, leaving for 
the Governor’s approval or disapproval five military bills. 
Three of these have to do with the State militia. The 
other two bills relate to the physical and military train- 
ing of boys and girls. One of these bills, known as the 
Welsh Bill, is good in that it provides for an experiment 
worth trying; the other known as the Slater Bull, is bad 
and ought to be vetoed. 
“The Welsh Bill provides that after the first of next 
September all boys and girls over eight years of age in 
public and private elementary and secondary schools of 
the State shall receive physical training. ‘This shall in- 
clude not only training in physical posture and bearing, 
mental and physical altertness, and so on, but also train- 
ing that will develop ‘self-control, disciplined initiative, 
sense of duty, and spirit of co-operation under leader- 
ship.’ The courses of instruction shall be determined by 
the Regents in conference with the Military Training 
Commission.” 
Ler ir BE Hopep now that Carranza is strong enough 
to carry out the agreements made with and the promises 
made to our governement. If a stable native government 
once gains control of Mexico one great step toward a 
peaceful adjustment of the difficulties there will have 
been taken. 
HE Outlook says: ‘‘The ‘Plattsburg idea’ is growing. 
It originated, we believe, with Major-General Leonard 
Wood. Its primary purpose is to train men in civil life 
by giving them instruction in summer camps so that we 
should have in this country a reserve body of civilians 
competent to furnish officers for volunteer regiments in 
time of military need. It is a volunteer and civilian move- 
ment, although it has the approval and supervision of the 
War Department of the Federal Government. It is a 
successful attempt to put into practice by voluntary action 
the principles of military and civic training which the 
Swiss people have adopted as a part of their fundamental 
political structure. These military training camps, which 
are popularly known as “Plattsburg Camps,” because of 
the great success last summer of the camp at Plattsburg, 
New York, are peculiarly American because they are at 
once voluntary, civil, and military. Although promoted 
by associations of citizens, they are directed and man- 
aged by the Federal Government, through the War De- 
partment. ‘The function of the citizens’ associations is to 
distribute information, arouse public interest, and obtain 
the volunteers; the function of the War Department is to 
have control of the moral, intellectual, military, and dis- 
ciplinary education in the camp. 
“As originally planned, an age limit was set for 
the Plattsburg camps this summer. No applicant under 
eighteen or over forty-five was to be accepted. But some 
of the headmasters of the prominent preparatory schools 
of the country believed that school-boys under eighteen 
years of age should receive the benefits provided by the 
Plattsburg camps. Under the leadership of Dr. Drury, 
of St. Paul’s School, Concord, New Hampshire, a com- 
mittee was organized some weeks ago to plan a training 
camp for school-boys between fifteen and eighteen. The 
plan has been approved by General Wood and by the 
War Department, and such a camp will be maintained on 
the Government reservation at Fort Terry, on Plum Is- 
land, Long Island Sound, New York. The Fort Terry 
Camp is an extension of the Plattsburg idea and will be 
managed on the same basis and under the same general 
regulations as the camps at Plattsburg.. It will be held 
from July 6 to August 10, inclusive,” 
