Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-10
A QUESTION OF TIME.

Americas troops will not decide the
result on the western front. German
military expert opines, because. az
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg says
the submarine will force decision be-
fore they become factor.
This is the conclusion OF an article
published in the Vossische Zeitung, in
which the author admits the Ameri-
cans will add great strength to the en-.
tente armies opposing Hindenburg and
Crown Prince Rupprecht, but argues
that they will not attain the standard
of brilliance which characterizes the
armies of France and Germany.
Because Americans must depend en-
brute strength instead of talented
leadership. finesse in action and quick
ness of decision. this expert reasons.
the comparatively small force now in
Europe under General Pershing will
be Of little consequence in the general
result.
So he tells his readers that. although
the big war ar1ny which soon will be
in training would be formidable foe
for Germany. it cannot reach the front
before the submarines will have forced
the allies TO sue for peace by Destroy
ing ships carrying food and munitions
from America.
Except for the conclusion, this is the
same wav Americans ard the allies
have figured out the situation. and the
decision as to which line of reasoning
is right will decide the way in which
histories of the future shall be writ
ten.
Just now the big feature in the war
situation is the race betwee1 the kais-
er's U-boats and our war department.
As far as the United States is con-
cerned. at least. time is the major con-
sideration in war activities. II the
preparations for f1ghtin" which start
ed in April, 1917. could have been
started in April. 1915, or even IN April.
1915. there might now be forty Yankee
soldiers in France for every one who
is there now.
Or, putting it another way. il the
United States could 90 to sleep tonight
in its nresent chaotic military state
and waken tomorrow in the condition
which present plans contemplate for
a year from now. there would be big
change in the war outlook
These facts serve to show the abso-
Lutte necessitv for haste in the prena-
ration for effective participation in the
f phtine on the western front-not
with a force of few thousands but
great army numbering hundreds OF
each man ennipped by
training for the sort OF fighting which
modern warfare demands.
Sc
run it's course and the next must be
well started-before Americas army
can be in Europe. Meanwhile. Eng
land and France with Persfing's valu-
able aid. must continue the dogsed
fighting which gradually rs wearing
down the German army's morale.
Though it cannot be denied that the
Teutons are fighting desperately and
effectively. neither can it be denied
that desarters from their ranks are
flooding Holland. and that there is
little need for the French and British
to guard their prisoners to prevent
their escape and return to the kaiser's
armies.
The submarines suffered their great.
est defeat when the convoy OF Per-
shings troop ships conquered for
midable fleet of them in battle for
which time and place were picked by
the Germans while the Americans
were fighting under the double handi-
cap OF darkness and surprise.
Eventually. Of course, the submarine
would be able to drive surface COM
merce from the seas. but there are
scores of reasons for doubling the ac-
curacv of the German theory that this
will transpire before Americas army
can reach the battle line. And II that
is the basis of Germany's remaining
hopes. those hopes seem slim indeed.