The Washington herald., 1917-04-09
BRITISH "GADFLY'
ATTACKS OPTIMISM
Prinsle. Insurgent M. p. Says Un-
pleasant Facts Must Be Faced.
BY JOHN l.. BALDERsTON.
tCopyTisht, I9T, by the Mcclure Newspaper
Sypdicatel

tCop5ught, t9iI, by the Mcclure NeNstAPI
syndieste)
London. March l6.-In an interview
characteristic of the average stout-heart-
ed Englishman, W. NJ. r. Pringie. the in
surgent member of Parliament who mas
acted as a gadiy to two governments
and Is winning a position for himself
like that occupied by Lord Randolph
Churchill a generation ago, sweeps aside
the careless and ignorant optimism RAM
pant in certain quarters regarding the
immediate future
But after pointing out that too much
must not be expected from Russia; that
Britain must. from now on, bear the
main brunt of the fighting on the West
front: that no decision can be looked
for on the battlefield before 1915; and that
food conditions here must grow steadily
worse, Mr.. Pringle ended with a note
of sturdy confidence.
BY publicity and not by secrecy our
difficulties will be diminished" he said.
and concluded, 1T is well that we should
face unpleasant facts in advance. II
We do this with courage we shall avoid
that alarm. despondency and panic which
would naturally arise il we were taken
by surprise.
stout Hearts Needed.
There is no ground for fiinching and
upon to bear a military and financial bur-
den which it never contemplated. tu
which its resources II wisely used will
not be unequal but which will involve
heavy sacrifices and. 1t may be, priva-
tions on the part Of all classes. From
the people patience. resolution, and sacri-
fee will be demanded and IL these quail
tiles are displayed as in past times there
need be no cause for pessimism o.
panic"
Only On the main western front, Mr..
PringIe believes. can decisive results be
obtained. He dismissed other theaters of
war in rapid survey. In former
years" he said, I'VE have been led to
entertain exaggerated views of the prob
able achievements of Russia. The i'm
mense reserves which the Russian en-
pire possesses in man-power have been
the chief ground of these delusive hopes.
We also have been kept in almost COM
Pletc ignorance of the real conditions
military. political. and social-in Russia.
The tremendous sacrifices made by Rus
Sia have caused an enormous drain in
her resources both of trained men and
skilled officers. Further. the political
conditions which have prevailed there
during the last nine months have greatly
diminished her military efficiency. While
the army and the people have been
whole-hearted for the effective prosecu-
ton of the war. there have been in the
government certain dark forces as
Russian patriots describe them. which
have nullifed the efforts of the nation.
Russia DisorGanIEcd.
These influences have admittedly
brought about state of disorganiZation
in many departments amounting to chaos.
from which the empire will take some
time to recover. Changes have been
made and reforms are being carried out.
but it would be foolish to imagine that
there can be immediate improvement. It.
therefore, is wise to make a very con-
servative estimate of the results which
the Russian armies will be able 10
gchicve."
similar conclusions may be drawn as
10 what are called the subsidiary spheres
of operations. As to the Balkan front.
Nir BOnar Law told the House of Com
mons that there was nothing to be said.
We may adj that there is nothing to be
expected. Our Italian aIiIes will play
their part against the depleted forces OF
Austria, but the nature Of the country
and the conditions of the operations give
US no ground for anticipating spectacular
or decisive results. During recent weeks
we have been chee"ed by the successes
Won by our troops in Mesopotamia and
tories are valuable for their effects in
weakening Turkey and increasing the
security OF our outlying possessions. but
they in no wise affect the balance in the
main controversy"
French Must Rest
Turning TO the west front, Mr.. Pringle
said: There interest Will be centered in
the strengthened front now occupied by
the British army-the greatest now in
the field on the allied side. The French
Armies will be mainly on the defensive.
Tine colossal efforts and losses which
they have sustained in former campaigns
render that IMPERATIVE. II would be un-
fair TO expect them to risk the heavy
losses of another great offensive.
To our armiC.. therefore, the offensive
v in fall. and they look forward with
courage and confidence. They will he
Ino.c uumcroiIs. more skilled. better led
and better ,'IUipped than in any previous
attack. As the SOmme was to LoOs, so,
they believe. will be the next offensive
to the SOUme. There is good ground for
believing that the lessons of past efforts
and tho vast improvement in equipment
will enable our men to gain substantial
NiCtoriN5. Eut il must not be forgotten
that there arc uncertain clements in the
situation. 1t would be foolish to imagine
that the Germans have been idle. Too
much must not be built on the retire
ment of the enemy on the Ancre.
Aerial Service n Factor.
Another element which cannot be left
out of account is the position in the air
There is evidence that our air service
no longer possesses the supremacy which
proved Of such value in the Somme often
Sive. If this be correct. it will be some
time before those in charge OF our air
service will be able to reoress the balance
and during the interval our army will
operate with handiCsJ in the air where
last year it held a decided advantage.
The Western front is likely to witness
this summer some of the heaviest and
most intense fighting in the war: the
brunt Of this terrible struggle will be
borne by the British armies; and the
conditions in balance are in favor of
our men. who are likely to win important
successes and gain valuable ground: but
no decision is likely to be reached this
wear. and We are fol ced to face a 1918
campaign
Food Question Vital.
Mr.. Pringle does not believe that
Germany can be starved into surren-
der In less than a year. and said, re-
ferring to food conditions in Britain.
More and more drastic restrictiops :