The Washington herald., 1914-10-07
GEAR IS NEEDED
|. To- CONDUCT war
Says Men Do Splendid Deeds.
but Things Make Those
Deeds Possible.
APPEALS TO BRITAINS
Says Early Success of Germany Due
to Country Being Prepared with
Every Sort Of Supplies.
APPEALS TO BRITAINS
By H. G. WELLS.
,,,,-, -.

Ths Noted English Novelist and Puhlictst.
London.,Oct 6-This Is q war, not oniy
of men, but Of things, Things also &C
to war Men do splendid deeds. but it /,
things that make their deeds possible
and we shall misunderstood this struggle
completely. and much that lies before us
In this struggle II we let ourselves sup
pose that Il needs only a i,AJponse on the
part OF the men 10 recruiting.
A greater need is for gear, hoardlngs,
taxicabs, the postoffice and newspaper
clamor, "Your King and country need
you," to every able-bodied man. Much
every Overcoat, every flannel shirt, every
stout pair OF boots or socks. every sea wee
revolver. every pound note in our pock-
cts. Much more for recruits 70 offer
themselves abundAntly, but gear has to
be made, and got together and bought
and has TO be paid for.
doubt II the people have begun to
reckon on the strain of that, or OF
how much they may serve their coun-
their possessions.
sueceHaes Due TO Gear.
For let there be no mistake about
the opening stages of this war. All
the initial successes of Germany were
successes Of gear. In artillery and
the transport every sort OF supplies
Germany was overwhelmingly at the
advantage, and the great march that
came so near Paris was far more a
triumph of boots and tires than Of men.
Germany was AT the outset also
enormously superior in the number OF
her flying machines. / have pointed
this out and expressed my conviction
that the German makes SO inferior an
aviator to the Englishman or French
man that ultimately these latter
would bully the German out Of the
sky"
This is already happening. The first
news of the British aviators from Gen
French confirmed my very obvious re-
marks in a previous article about the
need for a larger supply Of these most
essential weapons, and my congratu.a-
tions upon the recent energy Of our avia-
ton wins. ,
Germany and Russia Equipped.
In this war OF material it is Germany
and Russia only that seem to have been
fully equipped for a struggle Of the mag
nitude of the present war. Russia had
her surprise and learned her lesson from
Japan in 1901. When the Kaiser donned
his shining armor on behalf Of Austria
the Russian armor cleaned even bright
er than the German. 1t Is astonishingly
new and complete We In England were
also prepared, to the last button In
deed, most admirably for the expedition
ary force and with our Indian army.
Our part at sea Is only one side Of our
national duty. dare not write about our
British manhood at war except 10 say
that ! am proud to be English. But We
must now justify our claim to be the fac
tory of the world. We must show our
ability to put flannel shirts by the mil
lion, rugs, wraps, waterproofs, boots,
rifles, and ammunition into the battle line.
That is not. perhaps SO glorious task
as ruling all the seas, but It is equally
essential to victory.
No doubt Germans on their side are
pouring out supplies from 1000 busy
but with our uninvaded coun-
try we shall beat them at that They are
also making all sorts Of guns and queer
war engines a. those mighty works at
Essen.
VIII Make Digger G1ns.
The Germans will also try to make big
ger and bigger guns, and I suspect they
will build up their guns on vast pedrail
wheels to go over soft ground and so
them into skid-ike ironclads.
They are also probably turning all the
River Rhine banks. from Bonn to Westel, |
into a diabolicaI network OF traps and
obstacles against future attacks by allied |
armies. which they foresee. Incidentally |
they are using up no end OF stun, but
We have to reckon with this German |
passion for preparation; we have to keep |
pace with Essen. Now we have not |
only to keep pace with Essen, but as
soon as possible we have to get at Essen |
and smash up Essen. forever.
Westphalia, and not Berlin is the vital |
target in this western war on material, |
for II is at this center of manufacture
and not at the center OF government, |
that an hostile army must strike to |
end the war