New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-13

To the Editor of The Tribune.
! Sir: Touching the controversy, not devote
OF acrimony, that has developed over the re
cent Tribune editorial, dealing in unfavorable
terms with the British conduct of the war,
desire to say that |, though an Englishmar
(but long resident here, feel sorrowfuly
compelled to agree entirely with The Tribune
criticism.
/ think that it is fully justified. The hard
fact is incontrovertibe that Great Britain has
not a single military victory to its credit-in-
deed, has nothing to boast of save series OF
GLORIOUS retreats" And retreats, however
glorious. will never win a war.
The British soldier is magnificent; but with
all his courage and resource he cannot win
battle unless he is properly led, unless a
really sound plan OF campaign is first mapped
out and then inteiligently executed. So far
no commander has been found who is equal to
such a task. Many regulations have been be-
smirched, and even X. of X. seems hardly to
have lived up to his glorious past. A real
military genius on the English side, or one
in any degree comparable with Joffre has not
yet appeared upon the stage.
Those who assail the editorial in question
should also remember that it was written by a
friend, and doubtless more in sorrow than
contempt.
No one supports the Allies, including Eng
land of course, more consistently, more
stanchly, than The Tribune. And il behooves
every man TO receive the censure of a friend
with humble and chastened spirit
Probably'no journal possesses a military
writer at all comparable to Frank H. ST.
monds, whose recent letters on Verdun are
an epic The signal honor paid to him on
his recent visit TO France by the French gov
eminent is eloquent testimony to the esteem
in which The Tribune is held in that country.
He, notwithstanding British blunders, per-
sistently maintains that civilization and hu-
mainly will ultimately prevail over German
barbarism.
There is vet one other observation. This
pa. ticular editorial, as it seems to me, was
intended not merely, or so much, 20 expose
English shortcomings as to persuade this
country to profit by the bitter experience of
England, and, while there is yet time, though
none too much, to make adequate prepare
ton for defence against possible may, rather
probable) aggression.
A somewhat forlorn task, for rarely will any
man profit by the experience of another, pre-
ferring rather TO buy his own, and generally
at the highest market price.
The voice of Lord Roberts was the voice
of one crying in the wilderness, for the mass
of English opinion, fatuous in its ignorance
and apathy, laughed to scorn the idea of a
war with Germany and its peace-loving
Kaiser. Hence the lamentable consequences.
Fer there can be little doubt that if England
had had a real army, backed up by citizen
soldiery, commensurate with its needs and its
responsibilities, Germany would never have
dared to break the peace Of Europe.
Well, indeed, would il be for the United
States TO take this lesson to heart, and, for
a time at least. abandoning peanut politics,
pork barrel" and pension graft, to make such
adequate military and naval preparation as
would insure its future from all possible ag-
erosion. No nation would be foolhardy
enough to attack the United States, with its
population and its resources, if that popula-
ton and those resources were effectively or
ganized for defence.
The chatterers about peace could then rest
secure in the faith that their repose would
never be disturbed. r. W. MACKRETH.
Ivy, Va, May 10. 1915.