New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-30
Send a Division to Belgium


preparations for home defence. should be the
dispatch Of a division, drawn from our rcgu-
lar army, to Belgium
II requires no argument to demonstrate
:hat the issue which the invasion of Bel
gium raised is the paramount issue of the
war. and that the principle involved Is the
principle at the root Of the whole struggle.
To send a division of United States troops
70 Belgium, to serve alongside the Belgian
troops in the defence Of that tiny portion Of
RcIcium still left to King Albert and join
with the Belgian troops in the reconquest OF
their homes, this is something that America
should regard ns a moral duty.
Whatever one may think Of the other aims
Of the contcnding nations in Europe, the Bel
clan issue is unmistakable and the liberation
Of Belgium is the duty of the world
By sending a division of regular troops TO
Belgium we should relieve a certain number
If French troops now engaged with the Bel
rians. The troops which VIC send would pass
through France and their passing through
France would be sign and a symbol to the
whole French people, FIRST, that Americans
were sending their sons to serve the same
cause in Europe that French troops served IN
America nearly a century and half ago.
and. second, they would be a visible evidence
Of the arrival of new force in the world
struggle.
The Tribune agrees with its neighbor the
World" in its suggestion that VIC should give
rather than lend money to France. But II
feels that however great the sum of money
We NAV give 20 France, if it were unaccom-
named bv American troops it would seem
TO people spending their best blood III the
scrvicc Of civilization only partial perform
ance of our duty. 1t is not enough to pay
in money, and we must share in the sacrlhce
~ lifo essential TO the salvation Of civiliza-
ton.
The Tribune believes that the United States
should make all proper preparations Tor wag-
ing war. for contributing as an ally both IN
blood and treasure to the common cause OF
the nations now fighting against Germany
But it believes that German, and not Amerl-
can nurposes would be served if the declara-
ton Of war upon Germany should be fol-
lowed by an interruption Of that flow of sup
rles and munitions to Europe which, for
France and for Russia, is almost ind5pen-
sable.
One of the first things that the German in
fuences in this country will attempt to do
after war has been declared and some of
them have not awaited the declarations to
limit the participation of America to defence
on this side of the Atlantic. Only secondary
will be the attempt to persuade Congress to
Law hands on all war materials in this coun-
try and turn them to the use of an American
army which it will take long months and
even years to create. IT, following our dec
laration of war upon Germ any, we should be
bepuiled into interrupting the flow of steel
products and munitions to France, we should,
in fact, have made the greatest possible con-
tribution to Germany and our entrance into
the war might have a fatal meaning for those
who are fighting our enemy.
We must send troops to Europe, because
we must demonstrate our willingness to do
our part and give of our lives as we'll as of
our money We shall have to send many
thousands more of troops to Europe if the
war continues for several years. as now
seems likely; but this is a consideration of the
future. Al the moment it is Of first i'm
portance that before we do anything we
should coordinate our plans with those who
are to be our allies, and we must avoid at
all costs contributing to German victory by
ignorant and stupid activities on our own
part.
The Tribune believes that the division sent
90 Europe should be Differed from our regu-
lar establishment; that it should possess the
highest efficiency that can be obtained within
that service; and it believes that division
of 10000 men is the maximum possible con-
tribution that can be made at this time in
troops.
The Tribune heartily seconds the sugges-
ton made by "The World" in the matter of
giving financial aid to France, but it lays
most stress Of all upon the need of care and
intelligence now, when it has become ma
terial, as well as moral, duty for us to aid
the Allied cause, and a question of safety
as we'll as Of honor, to defend civilization
against the German attack.
The Backyard Gardener