New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-15

before II was fact. ] visited the British
army three days after the break in rea-
tons with Germany, and everywhere | was
greeted by the same question.
What is America going to do?" Sir
Douglas Haig asked and from commander
in chief down TO the last subaltern the
query was on all lips. 1t was more inter
esting to the soldiers than the war be-
fore their eyes, and l confess their convic-
ton that America would come in was
greater than mine.
Our Flag in Paris
As for France, the breaking off Of rcla-
tons with Germany was for Paris ultimate
proof that the United States was to enter
the war On the day this happened all
/ Paris rose TO the event as it had not risen
to any incident in the war. Paris sees
I American troops already coming down the
/ Champs Elysecs," Joseph Reinach, the
famous statesman Journalist, said to me,
and it was the fact. American flags began
to appear beside those Of the Allies in
Paris, and France celebrated, soberly but
quite Enthusiastically, "the greatest event"
as Reinach said, "since the German defeat
at Verdun."
In discussing this point l cannot help re-
calling a personal experience on the 9th
, of April Just one year before America
! entered the war. On that day lunched
with General Dubois in the citadel at Yer
/ cho11
/ falling, transforming the town into ruin.
/ Beyond the river and north, by Dead Mans
! Hill, musketry and machine gun fire was
rolling up with that crescendo which
marked the greatest Of the German at
tacks three days later, and in the citadel
the single salvation of refuge III all this
shell-cursed region-wc sat in casematei
q few officers, the staff of the general and
myself, and at the close of the Luncheon
| General Dubois raised his glass and drank
to America and the hour when my country
would stand with France in the battle for
I civilization and democracy. ! think any
one who could have seen the faces Of those
officers and men would have felt, as felt
then. that the entrance of America will
have a moral effect in France which goes
beyond the value of army corps and
dreadnOughts.
And now that the United States is in
/ the war, | confess that in the light of my
own experiences Of few weeks ago | do
not believe it is possible to exaggerate the
moral effect. remember that Jules Cam
bon. French Ambassador in Berlin at the
moment the war began and now in the
French State Department, said TO me:
"Al Of Mr.. Wilson's statements are splen-
did. save Peace without victory what
can it mean? Surely France cannot accept
that"
To-day all this has passed. The fear
that Mr.. Wilson would supply rallying
roint for the pacifists of France and of
Great Britain, basis for the groups that
desire peace at any price and at the cost
of national safety, is gone. Even if the
summer campaign does not bring decisive
victory, it will be hard to start a new peace
AGITATION like that of last fall, because
there will be no President Wilson to serve
as the mouthpiece of such proposals.
Moral Effect Greatest
Going back to my own impressions Oh
what Europe expected Of belligeren'
limited States. l should say this; In
France and in England there was the de-
,;r. n see the United States in the war
first because it was believed that our en-
trance would be the greatest moral We
tory for the Allies, the greatest moral as
aster for the Germans, that the war hau
econ since the Marine. With our entrance,
Erencb and British leaders agreed al
reace sentiment would be silenced IN Do'h
countries. the hands Of the governments
would be strengthened, the people "oulu
Ia beartened and corresponding depression
would be created in Germany.
Orite as important to the Allied point
e Low WAS the conviction that America
entrance would be useful as putting an end
% all German intrigue IN America the
lunuor;ng fear that we might be led INTO a
.,,arrel by the German agents, thaV we
;uh+ no tricked into dispute with Great
,,b;ch would threaten Allied inter
arts This was just beginning to yield as
49, hreak with Germany promised the
later declaration OF war 49,,
Az A. 20 the aid that the Allies could hope
80 noro was one idea in all minds. That
'V'' I'D send some troops, some regular
49, W NOT merely volunteers to be trained
~ Prime Minister suggested, by BRIT
;sh Of officers and serve under British com
l." I''. ~ this was the unmstakable desire
NAM ~. ranch. For them the arrival OF
u -" few thousand American troops IN
e. go. a handful. measured by tho Euro