Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-23
Philadelphia, January 10,
sENTIMENTALITY AND THE WAR
To the Editor of the Euentn0 Ledger;

TO the EultOf OF tHe EbenthO LeuDeT'
Slr-The flame of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's
emotional appeal to American sentimentallty,
so effectively put out by the cold water of
James o. Benefits reply printed In the EVEN
ING LEDGER, is not likely to break out again.
The dead ashes may smoke awhile, but are no
longer able to kinde. If one did not recall
how sentimentality has governed public opin-
ion in this country it did to everlasting
harm at the time of the war between Russia
and Japan, it would be difficult to account for
the vehemence with which many Americans
are reiteratng absurdties great those
of the British novelist,
In time of war, while soldiers remain sane,
II seems to be inevitable that civilians grow
rabid Lord Crewe lately expressed regret
that Winston Churchill seemed determined to
make war on the Germans on his account.
The same regret might be expressed as to the
utterances of a number of Americans. who
until few months ago never know the con-
tents of a single treaty who yet knew little
or nothing of the history OF treaties, who are
unaware how few treaties have been kept. who
are absolutely unframed in the consideration
of treaties and yet are now taking upon them
selves with national self-confidence and rash
ness the duty of guiding their fellow citizens
where the individual sympathles of the writer's
would have their readers go.
AS to a number of the pamphleteers and
speakers, II is apparent that they are not even
familiar with current expert discussion of the
subjects concerning which they have set out
to mold public opinion. An acquaintance of
some years standing, an officer of the English
army a well-known writer and lecturer to
army officers on military campaigns, has been
sending me from London series Of his artl-
ces the present war, which have been ap-
pearing in the British Review. In the January
number there Is this paragraph in Major Red
ways article, and II could be recommended to
a number OF our eager eontroyersialists as
pallIation for a certain form of hysteria:
'The time for apologies and explanations is
when the war is over, and then they would be
naturally colored by the status OF the ap-
pellant whether victor or yanquished. And OF
course, the verbal abuse OF an opponent whom
YOU have failed 10 overcome is essentially
vulgar. and the people who indulge them
selves in this way, on the plea that II Is
patriotic to do So display a weakness that Is
feminine and spite that is childish"
American sympathizers with the English can
be recommended to read Major Redway's three
articles which, though they have been slashed
by the censor, contain much that Is informing
They are written in temper that could serve
as a model 10 some of our home disputants
But then he is a trained soldier, and our home
product is wisely unframed in this direction.
and as novices approach an volved and dim
AS 10 the censorship. Major Redway asks US
what way the English policy OF mystery and
silence has aided Operations which no.
toriously dull, inert and wanting in enter
prise" and adds;
.aThere is small chance OF lnystifying mis-
leading and surprising the enemy while along
three-fo -fourths Of our front the trenches are
vis-a-vis and the fighting so bored with
Inc proceedings that they have established an
unofieial truce for such purposes as the eX-
change OF news the amicable robbing OF hen
roosts and the arrangement OF times and sea-
cons for performing a toilet and partaking OF
meals without disturbance. In these regions 1t
Ia not war that Is being Waged. but the poc-
ing OF a new boundary, boundary hxed by
the Germans"
And again
'In striking contrast 70 her allies encum-
bared with large armies, Seryia appears 10 be
able to maneuver her six divisions with facility
and eject"
Another military writer in the same number
declares that the way the journalists are wip-
ing the Austro- Hungarian armies on the Hat
of efhcient forces u the path 81 Russia is alb
soluteiy nonsensical ana he ADDS that but for
Russla German heEemony would now be ea-
iabiahed opposite the shores q England ana
81. dass Of Ensland wapld be numbered Ii -