“_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled_, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.” The United States of America had gone into its greatest war. CHAPTER VI WHAT THE UNITED STATES IS DOING IN THE WAR When a military nation of the type of Germany goes into war the entrance is but a step forward out of the preparations which it has been making for years; but when a peace-loving, peace-observing nation of the type of the United States goes into war the entrance is a revolution in the thoughts, habits, and intentions of the people. The declaration by Congress of the existence of a state of war with Germany found the United States with the greatest resources of any nation in the world but without the sort of military machinery necessary for prosecution of the conflict. The readjustment of the nation from ordinary occupations into war-making occupations has been a gigantic task, and one that has been accomplished only through the intelligent patriotism of the citizens of the nation, co-operating with the government. The first concern of the nation was the increase of our army and navy to a size commensurate to the part we were about to take in the conflict. Neither the army nor the navy came near to the strength which the nation knew to be imperative for the winning of the war. For, although the exact part which the United States would take in the struggle was to be determined later by conferences with the war councils of the other nations fighting Germany, it was certain that we would require a vast army and an adequate navy. Congress having voted that the United States should undertake extensive military preparation, the duty of providing that preparation fell upon the executive branch of our government. It was provided that the army of the United States should consist of the Regular Army, the National Guard, and the National Army. The law provides that, when these armies are assembled, there shall be no difference between the Regular Army, the National Guard, and the National Army. Every man in the army, no matter in what service, is equal in dignity, in responsibility, and in opportunity to every other man of the same rank in the army.