New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-01

Germany, about putting the people of Ger
many in control of their own country. But
does any one suppose that the people Of
. Germany would care to change the Ger
man for the British method? Does any
one suppose that there will ever be a real
chance Of crushing G1rmany-a foolish
, thing TO talk about anywsy-if the same
spirit, the same method, the same men
continue TO lead blind men through the
darkness without vision?
"Is England awake" is the question
that is asked of every returning traveller;
it is the question that is asked in France
and in Russia. Yes and no. England is
awake. terribly. horribly awake TO what is
happening. TO the shame and the disgrace
Of what has happened, not in the sense
that men have failed TO march and TO die,
but in the sense that they realize that alone
of the countries Of the world their country
has failed TO meet the crisis. not at the
moment when it came, but ever since. Eng
land has made tremendous sacrifices; 1t has
given Of its best and its bravest. England
is in mourning. not yet to the extent OF
France. but beyond that of America in the
/ Civil War: but France has the Marine and
Verdun. England has Gallpoli and Bag
dad. What it has given nobly has been
wasted hopelessly and shamefully.
The censorship Of the British press. the
public utterances Of the British state3-
men have from the beginning deceived
the people. The leaders told them two
wears ago that no war was conceivable.
The war came, the English went TO the
defeat that was inevitable, and the leaders
who had deceived them suppressed the
fact, clothed defeat with the garments OF
victory, never for moment gave the
British people a real vision Of the con-
fict or a real appreciation Of the fact that
the war was to be long, the issue doubtful
and the sacrifice enormous.
The English people have had TO find
out for themselves and in the depths OF
agony and suffering what this world war
was. The Colonies, far more alive TO the
fact than the Mother Country, have sent
their sons to Flanders and to Gallipoli,
and they have been slaughtered as they
we're at Anzac, at Ypres. Talk with Aus
tralians or Canadians in England or on
the Continent and you will get real ami
a saddening view of British conditions.
These men sec, they have suffered, they
are ready to suffer more, but there IS a
despair in their hearts because they feel
that the British will not sec, will not
understand
Talk with the Frenchman and there is
no difference. His effort to praise the
British is almost painstaking. He Will
tell you that England has done more than
she promised, much more, that she fights
with cleaner hands than any nation. But
he will say also, "They always come too
late: they do not understand this war
that we are fighting. Their generals are
brave, their soldiers are splendid, but they
never arrive and they never learn" These
Frenchmen will ask you anxiously about
/ the true meaning Of all the British talk
about crushing Germany and continuing
| the war until Germany is crushed and re-
organized from the outside. The French
man is willing to fight until the German
idea is crushed. He will never lay aside
his arms until he is beaten or Serbia and
/ Belgium are liberated. but crushing Ger
many is another matter.
In France you have the impression Of
people dealing with the most terrible
fact in this history of the race with cour-
age, competence and complete compreheH-
sion. You feel that The people and the
generals. the soldiers and the civilians have
taken a firm grip upon the realities If
/ their world But in England you have no
such impression, no such reaction. In
! France men talk 10 you about the strength
of Germany but if you read the British
press YOU must conclude that Germany is
starving to death, bankrupt, that her pco-
pie are on the point of rising to cXpel the
Kaiser and request Asquith or Grey TO
accept the German crown. You hear Of
British successes which were British de
feats; you hear of how Britain has saved
France and saved Russia and is about to
save Belgium; you know that Britain has
never yet been able TO save anything on
land. and that the whole war waits until
the British can at last get ready.
When an American, and particularly an
American with a British ancestry, criti-
cises Britain Of to-day he does it with
feeling of sadness. because he sees in Brit
ain exactly what he knows would come in
his own country, what he fears will come
in his own country at the first great crisis,
at the first considerable war. A whole
system has broken down in England, :.
system Of empire, Of life. of government,
A handful of insignificant and selfish poll
Lticians. long in control Of the fortunes Of