New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-17
IF WE co TO WAR
Speculations Concerning the Probable
Course of Events.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In view of the fact that for nearly
a year past there have been innumerabls
"crises" between Germany and the United
States there seems 10 have been very little
public discussion and analysis OF just what
war would mean for the countries involved
would suggest the following order o.
event. as a possible sequence. In the frs,
place, there would be a necessary rearrange'
ment for the care Of the diplomatic and o,hs,
interests of the United States and Germany
respectively. both as between themselves ard
in the other belligerent countries. In the
second place. there would presumably come
the confiscstion Of all German ships now in
termed in American waters, and the imme-
date use by US Of such ships, so far Is
necessary, for the purposes Of war or com
mercc. In the third place. the United States,
instead OF seeking TO embarrsss Great Brit
ain and her allies in enforcing their block.
AIDE against Germany, would employ every
means in its power to assist the Allies 10
making that blockade effective. Holland,
Sweden and all the other neutral eountha,
recognizing the farreaching character Of our
Intervention in the war, would at once swing
into line and take such action as would com
pei an early peace.
Undoubtedly the most important service
that America could render 70 itself. the Al
lies and the world a. large, including ulti-
mately the Central Powers themselves, would
be represented by the ranging OF our vas:
economic and financial resources on tho SIDE
Of the Allies, and that. too. in the form OF
a contribution by the American peops
through their government. ard not simply
by a bankers private loan. As our feet
would be superAuous and We have no army,
this would seem to be about the only In
portant thing We could just now do, and "
might be very important,
Such action on our part could not is'i
TO convince Germany OF the hopelessne" OF
her struggle, and thus put an end 20 'ne
present worse than useless internstionsl eh'
haustion ultimately including oursel5ss
now devastating the whole world, 70 II, 10
told detriment for generations to come
Now, on the other hand, II would seen
that inasmuch as we are securely pi0'
tected by the British feet, supplemented oy
our own from the danger OF any INVASION
OF our country by Germany. the sole onen,
sive move by that country against US wou.'
be represented by the torpedoing Of eers.n
number Of our merchant ships engaged u
the transatlantic trade lnasmuch as 'h'
form of attack would presumably be OF sno'
duration and might well include the oe
struction of some of the German ships 10.
interned in our harbors. il would seem p''
an insignificant price to pay for the re'u'"
Of peace.
! respectfully submit 20 the considersV0a
Of our fellow citizens Of German BLOOD ~
sympathy no less than TO the German pe0Pi,'
themselves. one possible factor Of transcehu.
ent Importance 10 Germany should We ~.
enter the war on behalf OF the Allies anu
is this: When the hour comes Tor hA'".
the terms Of the inevitable peace thai nv,
follow this war the United States. sit'ins -
a position Of authority around the eouas..
board OF the nations. might well play w
part OF Germany's best friend in saving n..
both now and after the war. from the ms
cal and economic ruin that stares ne,
the face A W. W
Augusta. Ga. April II, 1915