New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-16
ENGLAND AND IRELAND
The Tribune Criticism Lament Over the Failure OF FRIEND
England the Greatest Single Factor in Holding Germany
The objectionable Sin
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: have been much interested in the
vituperative letters appearing in The Tribune,
tho authors Of which are Englishmcn who OBJ
jcct TO the editorial you published showing
that England, through her unresdlness, had
suffered many defeats on land in the present
war.
II should have been perfectly apparent 10
any ar-minded reader that you were crlti-
cisng England in very much the same fash
ion that you crticisc America-not in anger
but in sorrow. Indeed, when ! read the edi-
torial il seemed to me not so much criti-
cism as a lament over the failure OF friend.
And il was perfectly evident that ono OF the
purposes Of the editorial was to show Ameri-
ca how impossible it is to improYse VIC
torious army in tho face OF a prepared enemy.
The Tribune has consistently pointed out
that England has done marvcllously well with
her navy: that it is the greatest single factor
perhaps, in the task Of holding Germany. ne
Tribune has given England due credit Tor her
financial help to the other Entente nations
The Tribune has said time and again that IN
putting an army numbering into the millions
in the field at all England was doing much
more than had been originally expected OF
her
I'm fact. The Tribune has been so very
friendly in it's attitude toward England and
IN it's appraisal Of what the English have
done that all but the English themselves have
long ago ceased to think Of The Tribune as
neutral paper all but the English have got
the notion that The Tribune would like to sec
America lined up with England and France
against Germany for the defence OF inc
democratic ideal in the world.
Every one but the English themselves! Or
rather. a few of the English. These English
men, forgetting that you have criticised your
own country a dozen times to once that you
have criticised England, cannot stand even
the shadow Of an imputation that England
has not been uniformly successful.
They swallow all the praise you have gwen
England compacently. But the moment you
make the perfectly truthful remark that Eng
land was not prepared in a military way TOT
a war Of this magnitude the moment tnat
you point out that this lack Of preparation
has logically resulted in defeats at Gsliip-
oil. Kut. etc, these Englshmen are down
upon you with rage and lnvective; they lose
their heads and call America cowardly. but
the readers Of this page have read their
letters.
Ia England sacred? Is it a crime to tell
tho truth about her? The French do not get
hot under the collar when their mistakes are
criticised The Russians bear 1t IN an admir-
able spirit The Americans submit to II almost
too tamely Even the Irish, supposed 70 DC
the hotheads of the world, will suffer 10 near
their mistakes as a people discussed.
It is only the English and the Germans VINO
cannot bear to hear it said that tney arc
not absolutely perfect IN all respects ENG
land can do no wrong. Germany can 90 10
wrong. The slightest criticism OF England
bowcycr truthful, however friendly in its
truth cannot be brooked The Germans
are the same way. -,
The attitude of the English, those English
ubo are so thoroughly Saxon is the same as
that of their continental cousins, the Prus-