The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-07-27
SECRETARY BAKER
ROUTS WAR GLOOM
Says There's Every Reason to
Be Confident of the
Outcome.
HAS FAITH IN THE RUSS
Declares SpasmodIc Political ConvuI-
sions Are to Be Expected, But That
the Russians Will Abandon the
Field Is Unbelievable

Field Is Unbelievable.
Washington, July 27-Commenting.
on the generally pessimistic tone of
war news, Secretary of War Baker
said:
The arrangement made by the Brit
ish and French on the western front,
together with the splendid progress by
the American troops abroad, affords a
basis for an entirely different attitude
than that expressed in the gloomy
stories published today. There is every
reason to be hopeful and confident of
the outcome"
The pessimism which has marked the
news reports On the progress of the
war for the last few days also was
likened In high official circles to the
psychology of political campaign.
I'VE may expect our ups and downs
In war as In politics." said another
close adviser of the president, '.but
that Is no excuse for a panic or for
the wave of pessimism which seems to
have swept over the country in the
last three days.
Il do not wish to minimize the seri-
BUSINESS Of the situation, for war is
serious business. The government has
made due allowances for discouraging
developments, which must be expected
from time to time, but sight must not
be lost Of the good features"
Official Views of Situation,
Officials here regard the disaster to
the Russians in Galicia, the continuing
losses through submarines, the neces-
sity for large appropriations and the
general attitude of congress toward the
problems of this government as con-
tributing factors to the pessimistic
trend of the news.
On these points answers were found
In official circles as follows:
The allies have by no means lost
faith In Russia. That Russia would
have spasmodic political convulsions
has been expected, but that Russia
will abandon the field is not believed.
On the contrary, 1T is expected Russia
will gather herself again and again
keep the central powers busy on
the eastern front until the end of the
war. Military men hold that it makes
little difference where the Russians
fight, geographically. SO long as they
fight and this they believe they will do.
Submarine losses are continuing in
about the same average as usual.
The gloom cast upon this phase Of
the war by the differences Of opinion
as to the policy of this government has
been ended and 1T is expected that ship
building will proceed under the new
management of Admiral Capps and Ed
ward N. Hurley faster than was orig
inally planned. Meanwhile the allies
are making definite plans for an of
fensfve against the submarine menace
which soon may make activities at sea
as important as the battles on land.
Tied up with the submarine menace is
the question of food and supplies for
the armies in Europe. The government
considers the food problem on the road
to solution and believes the shipping
problem will be met adequately.
Secretary Baker has denied news
paper reports that officers returning
from the front have brought word that
the German eastern front cannot be
broken and that it will remain in dead
lock to the end of the war Ii was
this report which contributed largely
to the pessimistic view.
Congress Stand Is Criticized
Speaking purely from domestic
point of view, the general attitude of
congress toward the big problem of the
war is the subject of much criticism.
The lack of leadership in both houses
of congress whenever the president
takes his hand off the throttle never
was SO manifest in this congress us
now.
Starting with a burst of fqnonpartisan
patriotism. congress passed the declar-
ation of war resolution and the Repub-
licans more than the Democrats con
tributed nobly to the passage of the
draft act. The first big loan of ST.
OOO, 100000 likewise was enacted quick
w. Since then congress has ceased the
constructive and has developed a nag
ging, faultfinding attitude of mind
which eventually may make trouble
The attempt on the part of the Re-
publicans in the house to hold up the
foOd-cOntrol bill until certain agree
ments could be made relative to the
attitude of the house conferees on SEN
ate amendments, was the nearest ap-
tiSo n I'm,
indicated even In its failure, the
growth of an unhealthy atmosphere In
congressional quarters. Both the rev.
enue and food bills brought to Wash
ington the biggest lobbies seen In the
capitol city.