17 OCTOBER 1914, Page 12

AMERICA AND THE WAR.

[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I send you an extract from a letter just received from a valued friend in the United States, resident in New York, and at the time he wrote just returned from a journey to Oklahoma and Kansas. It may prove of interest to you or your readers as a manifestation of the feeling in America.

"Daring my trip to the West and South-West I found the interest in the war almost as intense as it is in New York. Those little newspapers which only print one edition a day were getting out extras at all hours of the day and night, and oil-drillers and others would eagerly buy them and read tho news. I was really surprised to find in those interior points such a clear understand- ing of the situation and an intelligent discussion of the conditions that brought about the present unfortunate conflict. It is needless to tell you that the sympathies of the people of this country are entirely with Great Britain, and, outside of certain citizens of countries that are opposed to the Allies, they are all of one mind. These is still held nightly in Times Square, 42nd Street and Broadway, just across the street from the Knickerbocker Hotel (you will remember the Times building), what is locally called 'an International Parliament.' It is composed of people of all nationalities, ages, sexes, and conditions in life who read the war bulletins and study the war maps exhibited in the windows of the New York Times. The session is a continuous ono, as I have found it in session at all hours of the day or night in which I have passed, and there are usually from five to ten speakers discussing the war and explaining the workings of European politics. For the past few days the news has been all in favour of the Allies, and last night as I passed the open-air Parliament a tall man, pre- sumably a citizen of one of the countries forming the Triple Alliance, was admonishing the people not to put much credence in the report of their defeat, because the ultimate result would be the defeat of the Allies and the destruction of British domination throughout the world. As I happened to be close to him I could not refrain from saying: 'Not while the United States has any ships or men available for war.' While I said this in an ordinary tone of voice, it seemed to strike such a popular chord of approval that there was an outburst of applause that brought an admonition from some of the policemen around that such demonstrations were not permitted."