New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-08

! in the criticism Of The New YORK ! ro-
une. but IT goes too far. ~ Is useless
merely TO dwell upon the innumcraple
mistakes we have made in the conduct
of the war or upon the weakness OF the
government without also calling attcn-
/ ton to the gigantic effort Of the nation.
Considering that we are not mllltaty
nation, we were taken absolutely Dy
surprise. Even our military effort, now
ever far short it fell Of perfection, was
surely entitled to some respect. put
what I feel most Of all ia that justice
/ is not being done to the spirit OF tne
nation. TO It's constantly growing de-
/ termination to see the thing through NJ
| all cost. Look at the adoption OF com
pulsory service. IL was the most IN
popular thing in England until year
/ ago. We were told that the WORKING
/ classes i'm this country would rot SUD
nit to il. Is il not evident that they
will submit 10 anything IN order 10
win? More than that. Take even the
| government. ! am probably one OF It's
/ severest critics. ! think It ought TO De
criticised. And without outside criti-
csm and pressure from the public we
/ should not have gotten anything done
! But even in government II seems TO me
! that the elements Of strength and de-
! termination are slowly how slowly.
/ gaining the upper hand over the
/ habbier elements.
"Not that | pretend TO be satisfied
/ with the present state OF affairs. In
particular, am dissatisfied that re-
sponsibility for gigantic plumbers IS so
rarely brought home TO the men really
/ guilty OF them II is not vindictlve-
ness. II is common sense. good policy
and only fair play 10 subordnates that
a general who makes hash OF military
/ operations be removed from his posi-
! ton. Doesn't the same apply 70 min
isters? Why should they be the only
people exempt of natural right from
] the consequences Of their mismanage-
ment?
"In one case but as far as known
in one case only, that Of Ireland-this
/ has been done. How about the other
{ muddles? Despite all that has hap
pened / take a more hopeful view of the
| prospects Of this country and Of the
Allies to-day than have done since the
war began, except, possibly. in Sep
| TENDER, 1914, when we were led to be
| leve that the victory al the Marine was
more decisive than it actually was. At
every other time | have taken the un-
popular role Of combating the delu-
sive and often deliberately mendacioUs
optimism which has characterized, ]
won't absolutely say official statements,
I but statements freely made to the ma
| ton without any restriction or contra
diction from those who knew better and
who ought not TO have allowed the
country to be deluded as it has been.
ITO my mind the gravest fault th9
| government has committed worse than
/ any individual blunders is its failure
| to make the nation realize the gravity
I of its situation and the extent of the
effort required of it. But the point is
that despite bad leadership the nation
has realized it. 1t is rising slowly but
surely to the full height OF sacrifice and
effort which is required.
"And, mind you, when at last we &c;
our full weight upon the oar we shall
win. We are by far the least eN-
hausted, and may add we are not now
anything but the most determined OF
all the warning nations. When ] say
we Of course | mean the whole British
Empire. not only the United Kingdom
/ II is impossible to overestimate the ac-
/ dition to our total strength which IS
made by the great dominions. | was
thinking not only of the splendid tight
/ ing men they have sent us, but OF the
grand spirit of determination and
/ wholeheartedness with which they have
| thrown themselves into the struggle.