Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-15

It Is borne out by accounts from
every manufacturing district of busi-
ness men unobtrusively. but with sin
gular unanimity. Offering their plants
for the service of the nations arms.
There may have been some uncertainty
as to what was the best shipbuilding
policy; there Is no uncertainty that
vigorous shipbuilding policy is called
for. A bill to control the consumption
of food seems about to pass. though 1t
seems to be a superfuous measure, SO
anxious does every class appear to be
to achieve the bills purpose by volun-
tary effort A prodigious program OF
aeroplane construction is already sane
toned and sanguine souls have already
envisaged a final blow being struck by
America from the clouds. One hears'
too, of railway rails and material being
accumulated to remake the overpur-
dened and wornout lines of France ana
Russia Eeyond a doubt the magnitude
of the effort of undertaking and tne
general anxiety to see the eHore
through are quite beyond description.
"Precedent Condition" Discussed.
But it is vet not clear whether ma
iority of people in the country realize
that before America can interfere on
scale that can possibly be decisive a
condition precedent must be fulfilled
1t is the most elementary OF all maxlms
in war that no fighting force can DO us
work unless It's communications are Sc
cure Here and there convoy may De
lost, troops marching to the front may
be routed, casualties incurred and pr1s-
oners taken. Small and occasional
losses do not mean that communlca-
lions are cut, but there must exist sub
stantial security and substantial GER
tainty that the men. with their equip
ment, their ordnance. their munitions
their commissariat, will reach the front
to which they are sent. For, II any un-
certainty exists, it is folly to send men
forward until certainty Is established.
Can 1t be said that Americas commum-
cations with the European field OF war
are reasonably secure today!
Before we attempt an answer to TINS
question another elementary truth OF
the situation must be faced. Great
Britain France. Italy and Russia are
all four dependent upon oversee sup
plies either for the sustenance OF the
popuIation or for the upkeep OF their
stocks of warlike weapons, shells, etc.
If any one of these four countries
should be cut off from oversee supply.
not. of course, altogether. but to a point
that might make the sustenance OF the
mics on full fighting strength impossl-
BILE, a new situation would arise which
would make it useless for the Unlteq
States to carry on the war. The issue,
then. is not merely one OF the military
communications Of the United States
with the oversee army, but OF all the
allies with their sources OF oversee
supply.
How does this grave question stand
today?
Statement of Losses in Ships.
According to the latest statistics
Great Britain has lost since the begin
ming of April an average OF twenty
four ships week The tonnage of these
what neutral shipping is lost. Only
France and italy publish weekly lists
like the British list. Unofficial state
ments place the neutral and allied
losses, not including British, at some
thing like so or 60 per cent of the Brit
ish losses. 1t has recently been stated
in Washington that the figures for June
show that the U-boats are destroying
tonnage at the rate of 100000 tons
year.
February l of this year there were
supposed to be about 100000 tons
available for all the worlds needs in
sea traffic. All the worlds power of
replacing the lost tonnage has also
been stated to be equal to about 2,000,-
900 tons between February. 1917. and
February. 1918. and about twice this
for the period between February. 1918.
and February, 1919.
If the rate Of losses continues then.
there will be 100000 tons destroyed
and 100000 tons replaced. or a net
loss of 100000 tons eighteen months
from now.
And in February of this year there