The Washington herald., 1917-05-19
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
Soft snd Loud Pedals

sort snd Loud Pedals.
tchambeslins MaaaziDsl
The truth seems 10 be that the Ameri-
can public has been subject 10 two cam
paiens OF publicity. The first, originat-
ing among allied diplomats before our
entry into the war, was for the purpose
OF minimizing the serious aspects OF the
situation. II was intended TO make Us
believe that our entry into the war would
oe more or less formality and that.
having declared war we would have
little TO do but sit safely behind the
AIMED line and watch the fighting through
to happy conclusion.
The second propaganda Is now in fun
force. Having made the declaration we
cannot draw back. We have burned the
bridge and must suffer with the sllies- V
defeat comes. Therefore, II now becomes
necessary 10 rouse us. We must be
awakened from our dream Of cinema
tographic war. From oniookers we must
be reused into participation. We must be
kicked out Of our complacency. We must
be made to fear the worst 70 prepare 20
take ship for France. Hence. from every
source We get stories OF the plight Of the
allies and their desperate need for help.
Hence also. the European commissions
Deg US 10 put force. no matter how
small, upon the firing line at once. OBJ
viously they desire to have US read of
our dead. They know that as soon as
a transport loaded with helpless soldiers
is sent TO the bottom. or a battalion Of
rihemen is smothered in gas or torn 10
fragments by nitrogiycerin our attitude
here at home will change Gerynany Is
carefully avoiding anything that may
arouse our rage. So our friends must
help us TO arouse II for ourselves.
Unfortunately. in this quandary between
Hrecohciiaoie sets OF news stories. the
public seems to have accepted the warn
ings as a propaganda. The people refuse
to be alarmed about our allies and choose
to believe the other set OF stories-those
that predict an early German breakdown
Let US hope that the public is right. II
seldom is.
The German ChaaceIIoFsG speech.
Detroit Free Pres)
Chancellor Won Bethmann HoIlveg's
much postponed peace speech was not
.emphatically pacific when It arrived. II
definitely repudiated sympathy with prof.
ects for territorial conquest but Il as
definitely declined 10 outline any projects
for an arrangement with the enemy, ex-
cept with respect 10 Russia; and the plan
voiced for a Russian peace is TO be con-
sioered war measure conceived as an
aid to more vigorous prosecution Of
the campaign along the west front.
Though the German chancellor avowed
his independence and endeavored to con-
vey the impression that he was pursuing
middle course Of his own choosing the
larger probability is that his utterances
stand as compromise and were no in
dication Of his personal feeling. Il Is
significant that the speech came directly
after a visit TO grand Headquarters, hav-
ing been postponed in anticipation Of that
visit The report Of a Won uIndenburs
threat 10 enforce q bulldog offensive
policy by employment Of the army
against the civil power 81 such a move
should be necessary, may be a wholly
apochryphal yarn. but there is no doubt
IL represents a sentiment which HoIIweg
was obliged TO give a large degree Of con-
sideration.
But the chancellor's speech also provid-
go internal evidence OF a strong domestic
Sociaist pressure for an outline OF peace
terms with the entente II there had
oeen no such pressure-the bold utter
ances OF ScheidemRnn and Ledebour pro-
vide positive corroborative evidence Of
It's presence-f the peace party were
not formidable, where would have been
the necessity for an extended and some
times vehement enumeration OF reasons
why no definite peace proposals should
be given out? The chancellor Was not
setting up men Of straw 70 knock down
The chancellor was in combat with a
powerful propaganda which was not
afraid 10 make its demands heard de-
hantly within the precincts and among
members Of the ReichstaE This propa-
Eands feeds on the general extremity, the
food want. the WEAKNESS Of the German
people; It has gained much strength in
the last two months through reactive in
fuence from the Russian revolution
Ledeoours prophecy OF a German re-
public shows this
The Human Eagles.
Chicago TfibuDeD
Five thousand American warplaneF. the
smallest air feet we should think OF send
ing, will call for 5000 American aviators
What an opportunity! No other arm OF
the service so appeals to a mans patriot
ism, mans sportsmsnly instinct a
mans ambition. At the same time no
other arm OF the service so discourages
the outsider. He would as soon consider
glass-eating. tightrope- walking. or nd
ding on one string. II has never entered
his head that greenhorn I'VE almost
said a Darius Greenhorn) can be trans
formed into an accomplished aviator in
900 minutes
Yet such is the case. To drop bombs
accurately few do, and TO take photo
graphs from the sky and to send wire
less messages, and to handle an airplsne
gun-these are supplementary arts. But
merely to master the art OF flying. as
taught al the Newport News flying school
CAmerics's largest before the war;. re-
quires only 900 minutes in air. Any one
can learn, provided he has youth, pluck.
ard an average endowment OF horse
sense.
1t is hazardous. to be sure, though what
seem the Eravest dangers OF military fly
ing are in reality a source Of safety. One
flies at a high altitude, thousands OF feet
up. II ones machine overturns. one has
abundant time in which TO right It. II
ones engine stops. one has time In which |
to choose a landing place. However.
safety is not what volunteer expects or
especially desires. He wants to be use
full. and the aviator is that to the nth
power. His bombs do small damage, as
a rule, and bombing could well be dis
pensed with. but he is eyes to an army.
At the same time he is equipped to put
out the eyes OF an opposing army. Of
fensively and defenstvely. he Is sll-im-
portant. He is respected as such. He is
splendidly paid and swiftly promoted.
And he alone enjoys a short cut to
fame and glory. No single handed ex-
plot on land or sea wins recognition. hut
when an aviator brings down his tenth
enemy machine or Tots a Zeppelin thel
world rings with his praises. Then, too. |
there is huge sport in the exploit. III