Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-03

waged with intense energy and grow
ing ingenuity, but 1t has noe yet at
tanned the necessary measure OF sue
cess. The danger is real and urgent
and the we'll meant efforts to minimize
1t do more harm than good The sub
marine is not going to starve US out.
but 1t will cripple the military action
Of the allies. especially of the Ameri-
cans. unless we can get the better OF II.
On the other hand, 1t Is certainly
within the power Of Great Britain ana
America combined to reduce to neg
ligible proportions this, the greatest
obstacle to their effective cooperation.
But this requires a prompt. great ana.
above ALL co-ordinated effort on the
part of our two countries.
What directions the enort shouio
take-they are known to the admiral
test would be unwise to SPECIFY
but it is necessary that the public be
made to realize the magnitude and
urgency Of the task
Must Develop Air Forces.
There. is another thing that needs
to be developed with the utmost en-,
ergy-namely, aircraft. air services and
air strategy. After many Viciss1tudes
the allies on the west front now have
got something like the upper hand in
the air, and by painful effort still con-
ttnue to maintain 1t. But that is not
enough. Complete supremacy in the
air is certainly attainable through the
united and maximum effort Of the
United states, France and Great Brit
ain. They should be satisfied with
nothing less, for this alone would be
decisive Ten thousand additional
aeroplanes may well be worth more
than half a million or even million
men, and they are easier to transport
upon realizing the extent of the need
and to see that the task before US is
as big as it really is.
That is the first thing needful. and
the second is like unto ito hurry
up and act in close concert with one
another in all our preparations SO that
there may be no waste, no overlapping.
Distance places many obstacles in the
way of continuous consultation ana
pulling together. These are our great
est difficulties, but they can be greatly
minimized by the proper organization
of councils of the allies.
Much also depends upon the right
kind of publicity. We hope that we
are improving In that respect, in this
country. There was room for it. No
sensible man wants the official reports
Of military and naval events to be long
and detailed. The need Of reticence is
clear But it is possible to be reticent
on points which might be of value to
the enemy and yet give Just general
impression of the course of affairs-in
fact tell the truth.
That has always proved the best
plan with the people of this country,
and / am confident that it will prove
the best with the people Of the United
States In a free community fighting
for freedom the right course is always
to rely on the good sense and patriot
ism Of the great body of the people.
Here, and / doubt not with you also.
that central mass is absolutely sound
and cranks and cravens may be dis
regarded. The franker YOU are with
the general public. the more you make
them realize the magnitude Of the task
before them, the more heartily they
will respond. Great trust must be
placed in those of whom you are de-
manding great sacrifices"