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

insignificant detail IN q world war. The
number Of troops surrendered is insignifi-
cant judged by contemporary standards
the whole affair amounts TO something APP
proximatinc an outpost affair in Europe
and the loss Of trench or a village
But unfortunately it is not on the mill
tary side that the Bagdad incident will be
viewed or its influence felt. We have seen
in The Tribune accounts of the Nerdun
battle recently that the true meaning OF
this colossal struggle was not military, but
moral; that the Germans made stupendous
sacrifices TO take. the French 10 hold, some
thing that was not of military but of moral
value. Precisely the same arguments on
which rests the French claim 10 a great
victory at Verdun contribute to establish
ing a really great British defeat before
BaCdad.
The Germans arc mistaken when they
say that the effect Of this defeat will be to
rouse the French and the Russians against
their allies. the British. The French have
been disappointed since the beginning Of
the war at what the British army has ac-
complished. They have been disappointed
because the failure of the British has cost
them terrible losses, but they are equally
conscious of the fact that the failure has
not been through lack of effort, and
that the British aid remains a great and
kuseful. even more. necessary, factor in
he result they seek. The Russian senti-
cent is more obscure, but hardly different.
IN the other hand, the effect upon Brit
Aprestige in the world upon British
idence at home. can hardly be mis-
ken. At the moment when Dublin is in
yshes and rebellion in Ireland is demon
strating the fatal folly of the domestic
olicy Of those who rule Britain an army
ent foolishly 70 certain disaster surren'
ers. not to the Germans not TO the Aus
Jtrians. but to the Turks. Gallipoli is fol
lowed by Kut-cl-Amara, and British
army has laid down its arms TO the troop;
of the Mahor1etan Sultan.
In the Near East, in the Far East, this
surrender before Bagdad is q greater fact
than the Russian victory at Erzerum OF
1 the French at Verdun. What the French
have purchased on the Mouse. the Rus
SLAMS along the upper Euphrates. for pres
tige and influence for the anti-Teutonic al
lance. has been wasted by the British II
| Mesopotamia and in Ireland. All the Al
lilies suffer thereby; but who can exagge
] ate the decline Of British prestige in the
world?
Suppose the war were TO end today or
he basis Of status quo ante, suppose Grea
Britain were to keep the German colonies
hat she has taken, what would be the
moral estate Of the several powers
rance would emerge from the storm
reater than ever in her splendid history
10 German drcamers would ever again II
his century fancy France dccadent Of
venture TO attack France as an easy wa!
b world power. Germany would stanC
nth as the marvellous nation which haC
many months faced and on the whole
sted the world in arms, performing mir
es but failing TO conquer Europe be
use the thing could not be done. Russii
build be stronger because Russia ha
EN- reorganized upon a national basis
people have taken over the war, ant
ter the war they will take over the ma
Ftion.
But what Of Britain? Her feet ha
j kept the seas, she remains the ruler of TIT
oceans. but on land wherever her armies
have gone TO battle they have gone 70 de
feat. ignominious defeat, regard being haC
for the generalship, splendid defeat, re
gard being had for the soldiers. French'
failure at Mons. not TO win, but TO retrea
in time; the subsequent peril of his army
which eliminated it as factor at tn
Marine; the British failure at the Marine
. which spoiled Joffre's magnificent combi
nation and nearly ruined his battle
French's mIecison at Ypres, followed b.
his decision 20 retreat, a decision only JUS
blocked by Foch in that terrible night when
having lost a son and son-in-law ant
being nearly spent with WEAKNESS, he wen
20 French and by moral force compele
him TO reverse his decision TO retire; tn
hatchery of I,oos, where men won battl
and tnelr Victory was ViAN"i' """' N''
they were left 20 die unsupported-this i
the story of Britain on the Continent T.
date.
And at home. There is Ireland blazing
into revolt. We have had strike afte
strike; we have had. and there remains, tn
struggle over CONSUMPTION, the quarre
about married men. We have seen CIV
government that cannot deal with a situa
ton because it cannot understand it, be
cause il cannot deal with facts at all be
cause il can only talk. 1t lied 70 the Brit
ish people over all the years before tn
war came. 1t almost lied the British PEG
nlo ont of the war altogether and lief
France to perish alone. 1t has been lyn'
ever since.