El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-19

IL States will refuse to sacrifice the lives of Americans
the incompetence Of European leadership Nevertheless
he has that the United States Of that
competence would drcp out of the Rather, he be
Hcyes the United States would control Of large
part the conduct IN the var Of its own initiative, direct
lrg its great movements N order TO make sure the
blood OF Americas sons was not being spilled through
friendly blundeTs.
That Is rather startling statement It IS one not thus
publicly made in this country Perhaps it had not exactly
0ccured Yet matter OF fact is exactly true
American temperament IS not built to stand the mud
ding through policy unless ourselves are doing the
mUd6ling To be have muddled through most Of
wars but did It ourselves and could only
ourselves of errors.
It would not do TO send US up against Gapoli lose
an army Of lives with nothing accomplished It would not
leave the position Of Italy, pleading for shells
and cannon while the enemy is assembling for overpOw
eTing rush We would take the teeth
20 our own way, If convinced It was necessary.
The point Lord EoTheiffe made that while Britain
has many excellent government and military leaders, there
others who incompetent and whose bunders
dangerous a military defeat Indeed, they often
prssage military defeats Of did -eer to Nj
Lloyd George for Btans prime minister is and has been
the driving force Of the nation the who yitaEzed
enegzed and enthused the people, who turned England
producing center for Shells coal ships and
cannon, so that now England IS actually better organized
Tor supplying the elements OF war than Germany itself
Earl Kcheners last great work the recruiting Of
greater army than before had been assembled under
the British flag When the cruiser Hampshire under
the waves and Kitchener passed in the black storm
Lloyd George up the task where Kitchener dropped
and with the help very able unring army officers
he made kltcheneTS Mob" SplenG1dly trained, well
canned and equipped army OF lighting men whom he then
dispatched France and has been supplying admirably with
IyeTy needed material ever since.
No. FOTthciffs was casting no stones at Lloyd George
Indeed he brought Lloyd George to the front and forced
England give him chance to what he could do
fere1ally he ertises Lloyd George for not cleaning
house. not for Kidding the governmental organization Of
those unnamed hsnd1cas he accuses Of Incompetence
NoTthcHfe has patience with extreme British conser
vatism, With the slow moving, slow thinking tradition
bound English government officer Forthcliffe is verv
and the Welsh decidedly alert FoTthcffe must
believe that vigorous spirit Is needed al through the
government organization.
France has felt that need and has overthrow two
ministries in seeking more vigorous prosecution Of the
II CIemenceau has Just as premier on that
basis He is life and vgOr persoufed, ard that he viii
surround himself with ministers Of the stamp MY
be taken for granted.
Italy has had such shaking up as to remove the last
vesges Of internal dissenSon and Italy is fighting
never before; fighting better than when her armies
stood conqueror Austrian soil Russia out Of it for
The tine being, at least.
We may count the real fighting powers of the alliance
o- the Iest Of the war Britain France Italy and the
United States With revitazng in England and pos
bly IN the United States-we have not yet become
actively dissatisfied with any Of government e1ecu-
vesthe allies should be able to carry through spIenddly
Il all their powers were oOordinated.
It may be remembered that time back The Herald
spoke or uled direction Of the absolute
-asty advocating the creation Of war board consisting
CT several generals who should conduct the war operations
IN all the theaters according to their best Judgment
t1-AI u Wal MS lO" Dtel Created II consists OF
Gen Foch Of the French army, Gen Wilson Of the British
army and Gen Cadoua Of the italian army It IS unfor
tunatey devised in two respects only The first is that its
powers are somewhat less than they should be- It Is
merely three man surveying party which goes over the
ground draws lines and leaves the actual DEVELOPMENT to
others It makes plans but not decisions Power Of de-
ion still rests with the various governments Of the al
lance Such arrangement is half measure It cannot
cope with the strongly centralized control Of the Teuonc
alliance. It needs power back of It.
The other shortening that the United States was
not included IN IT. It IS not enough say that while we
are fighting IN France part may be outlined for Us by
the French representative Gen FOc IN collaboration with
the others Of the board The very smallest Of our activities
centers in France. So 10 speak, have only toehold
there We are playing great big part IN score of WAYS
and We are enagng that part with every dav that passes
The wT council ought to comprise four strong commanding
with all the power Of their countries behind them and
the United States should be represented by one Of the four
The delegation Of Col House to meet with the war conn