The Washington times., 1915-06-27
HAS ENGLAND FOOLED EMP

shNS EINoLNlND ToOl<ID ENl
There is a cheerful story, which
is getting considerable currency,
that the British and French have
jobbed their German antagonists
with the reports of unpreparedness
and especially with the allegations
that England has failed to provide
necessary to maintain
her army at full efficiency in the
field. If this story deserves any
credence, it indicates that Britain
is on the point of throwing into the
war an army, not of two million,
but of nearer four million men;
that it will be equipped with a posi-
lively wonderful artillery arm, and
ammunition to reproduce on a yet
vaster scale the performance of
LaBasse, where accounts from all
sides agreed that the artillery Of
the allies simply smothered the Ger
mans for several hours, and opened
the way to an important artillery
advance.
If the British situation has been
SO unsatisfactory as has been
widely represented, then Britain
has been guilty Of the most exag-
gerated form Of stupidity in "tip-
ping its hand" to the enemy. It is
true that Britain at the outset of
the war was not 80 highly organ
lied for the particular business Of
producing war supplies as was
Germany. But on the other hand
Britain is the most intensively in
dustrial country in the world, and
it ought, in a year, to have devel-
oped tremendous capacity to pro-
duce. It has done this; whether the
results are all that might be wished.
this much is very sure.
The mystery Of seeming British in
efficiency is explained now with the
story that the Britishers were put
ting one over" on the enemy in rath-
er a startling way. It is declared
that while Kitchener was telling the
country and the world that he was
going to raise 100000 men, he
was In fact enlisting twice that
number, and suppressing the fact. 1t
is declared, with much circumstance
and plausibility, that the most elab-
crate precautions were taken to keep
the English right hand from know.
ing what the left hand was doing
The censorship was clapped on tc
keep any recruiting figures or es.
Inmates, other than those officially
announced, from being published
Appeals of the most pathetic kind
were issued, calling on the nation te
rise. Any sort Of censuses Of re
cruiting and other operations wers
strictly forbidden.
Within the logic Of this conspiracy
story comes an explanation Of ad
ditional reasons for the British cabi
net reorganization. It was neces
sary to take all British political Gle
ments into confidence in order to in
sure against fool questions ant
statements being made by politician
under cover Of their privilege. Ger
many was to be given the impression
that England was in a bad way
and German agents, Of whom tn
United Kingdom Is known to con
tain great numbers, must Re misle,
as to the facts. Movements Of troo]
trains and ships are said to hav
been conducted with a secrecy o
the most effective sort; transport
sailing from inconvenient ports Il
the islands, and landing their hu
man freight at unexpected and il
logical places on the continent, eve
Marseilles, on the Mediterranean
being named as one of the importan
destinations used in furtherance o
this project of concealing the truth
1t is at least an interesting story
if true, it presumes that when tn
big movement begins on the west
ern front, it will be backed by
far greater force than has bee
supposed to be available, an
equipped with the material to SUI
port an operation of such exter
and power as to dwarf every pr,
vious performance of the war.
1t is time for England to sprin
surprise, if she has one in waitin,
The world feels, art this momen
that on land England has done LEI
than her share. There are report
of the French being disaffected wit
! the lack Of cooperation given
the British army. These, of cours
on the conspiracy theory, are ju
part of the job that has been pr
=, pared for the discontinue of II