New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-16

II was not until the Battle OF the Somme
hogan that there was British army IN
the modern sense, that there was a British
army in the sense that here had been q
French or a German army from the start
But this army of 100000 had been Great
od in almost every detail, not out of the
accumulated resources and experiences OF
MANY wears, Of centuries, but out of moth
ING but British citizens, who had never,
even in the tradition Of the race, known
national army or national war.
We know now that the new British army
al the Somnre began badly, always having
in mind the military facts. The machih-
cry that had been created out of nothing
did not work smoothly, easily, successfully
There were terrible losses and fresh mis-
takes. The advance did not sweep for
ward; It was held up; the drive became
almost at once a pounding, and 1t was
weeks before the British progress on the
map began to compare with the French
And yet the fact that we can also see
now Is that every failure in the first days
became thing Of the past promptly. IN
the opening days the artillery and the IN
fantry were not coordinated; the BRUSH
had by this time manufactured guns as
good as the German, rs good as inc
French, but not in day or month was IL
possible to find enough trained men TO
operate them. Infantry officers who had
never been infantry officers until a brief
time before could not by inspiration learn
the scientific side Of the task; they could
die like soldiers, but the science of living
like soldiers was less easy TO acquire.
Yet il one could measure the achieve
ment Of the British army by those elaborate
and confusing curves that delight the stat
isticians, no one could mistake the upturn
of the line. Each attack cost little less,
was done a little more efficiently and with
a gain in speed The British army dis
closed itself from July to November en-
gagged in learning task which it no long
er underestimate or affected contempt for.
And behind the army the nation was
learning its lesson. Who shall say that 1t
was not the army which taught the people
behind the army? The French long ago
forecast that when the British had ma
tional army. when there was universal SER
vice with all that it implied, then all the
obstacles and difficulties would vanish.
The war surprised British democracy as
war would surprise us. 1t found it unpre-
pared and without men of prominence who
could adjust themselves to the situation
and the new conditions. The statesmen
did not face the realities of the war; the
people could not discover them, and there
was, at the outset, no large number OF
men at the front whose testimony could
illuminate the darkness.
But that period has passed. In the past
five months not less than half million
British have been killed, wounded and cap
tured, and very few have been captured
at the Somme. In that period there has
been not the smallest suggestion Of weari-
ness of the task or doubt as to the end,
nor has there been any change in the
steady upward march toward absolute mil
itary efficiency.
1t may be another year before the Brit
ish army will find itself as completely as
the French or the German. But France
had to send to the rear half of its COM
manders who began the war; France with
it's traditions of national service and its
generals trained TO modern war went from
defeat to defeat in the opening weeks of
the war. With all their advantage in
training and preparation the Germans
have not won the war and are not win
ming 1t.
The French Premier said the other day
that France had never made a request of
her British ally that had not been hon.
ored and more than honored. The sever
est critics Of British military weaknesses
among the French have never hesitated
to recognize that without British fleets
nd British material support France would
have been defeated. Every effort on the
part Of the Germans to SOW discord be-
tween the two allies has failed in France.
We in America, who realize what it has
cost Britain in her best blood, what 1t has
cost her In treasure, in suffering, because
she was not ready, have been quick to
emphasize each detail Of the cost and Of
the temporary failure, that there might be
no survival in this country of the easy OPP
timism Of the Britain that refused TO hear
Lord Roberts. We have always with us a
Bryan, talking Of the million men that
would rush to arms the moment war came
to America.
Not one million. but five have rushed to
arms In Britain, by far the larger part by
volunteering; every question Of political
meaning at home, save only the never end
ing Irish question, has been adjourned; the
British have created an army out Of moth
inc. thew haye eouipped millions: they