New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-04
America S Part in the War
Direct Aid to Russia Greatest Service
We Could Perform

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. As a state Of war with Germany VIII
probably be declared 10 exist as one oil '"'
first acts Of the new Congress tho queSuo"
arises: How can tho United states best 90
bc- mart. as ono of the Allies. to defeat inc
common enemy? To train and transport
large army to tho front IN France "ou''
mean too much loss Of time, moreover ''''
does not seem to be the need OF man power
90 much as Of food and munitions 1909 ''
France and munitions and hospital supplies
IT, Russia. The latter country, moreover
rndcr its new government. - specially IN
need Of our moral support and piac''c'i CO.
operation az a bellgercnt ally.
This needed support and cooperation would
no more immediate and effective IT, instead OF
sending an cxpcditionary force TO rIa"oc'
r. GOO trained regular troops with ar,'I'eIS'
and more TO follow later be sent, via inc
Pacific and the Siberian Railway TO kusS" 10
assist in the defence OF FeTogIau 40
nractical. ocular evidence to the Russian PVo'
RE of our sympathy and OF our nope TOT '"e
success OF their new government VI wv"
still more importance would be the olSPalo"
OF supply OF munitions 'IhcS' hach'"r
guns and field batteries. with cartridges anu
.hclls-for the equipment Of the millions oil
Russian reserves without arms, TINS Supply
not 70 be sold or advanced as loan but sent
as n cooperative contribution LOT '"' yum
mon purpose IN view.
Instead OF divcrting a. undue proportion
of American recruits TO training camps,
sufficient number ought to be recruited d.
workers in government arsenals and mum
20, ttfatq e. q
under some mobilization of Industries, m
Guiding railway and ocean transportation
lines. Under this plan, together with the
utilization Of American inventive genius. 1t IS
believed that American cooperation would al
fcrd immediate results. Aid given quickly
is always Of twofold value. This summers
campaign on the East and West European
fronts will 10 doubt decide the war
Indirect Benefit 20 Franc"
There ia an obvious feeling Of generosity
toward France. and disposition that our CO.
operation in the war should be directly with
that country. But helping Russia VIII DO
more to helm France than any direct aid VIC
could give the latter. If Russia IS beaten ana
forced into signing a separate peace the
doom Of France may he written in the same
document; without the Russian alliance
france would have been attacked a decade
ago. To strengthen any weakness on the
Russian front therefore, is doubly strength
ening France.
The Pacifc-Siberian route Of communca-
ton can always be kept open; when not
through Vladivostok. then via the Manchu-
Ran railways under RussO-Japanese control.
II may be desirable that American supply
trains. under American direction, be run over
these lines, with equipment and engineers
furnished by the United States, the super
vision of the distribution OF the munitions to
be under American army officers; technical
engineers. also, to be sent where necessary to
direct or instruct in the use Of American in
ventions and methods.
A very great need in Russia is force Of
American surgeons together with hospital
CONTINENT of every sort. from first aid band
ages to motor ambulances for the transport
o. the wounded 70 the base hospitals 1t
would be difficult to estimate the immense
saving in life and suffering such cooperative
aid would effect.
The general plan need not interfere with
home defence preparations; it IS suggested
as coordinatng offensive war measure.
The war must be carried into Africa;
Carthage must be destroyed are very
ancient military maxims, and are as true to-
dav as when first enunciated. As Custer
said: "You cannot win cavalry charges un-
less you make them; likewise, when an
enemy is in front OF you. no peace with
fonor is possible unless you first give battle
with all the force available.
If the many well-meanng pacfists would
turn their attention to winning support and
encouragement for democratic Russia they
would do more in aid of early peace than by
any other means now in sight.
JOHN s. ALEXANDER,
Late First Lieutenant of Infantry. y. G. p.
New York Anrl - 1917