The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-29
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THE BRUTAL TRUTH.
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9 . o @ O o o o o O O o o o o 9 O
Henry A. Wise Wood, chairman Of
the conference committee on national
preparedness, declares that the edi-
to1ial printed below from The New
York Tribune of May 2 so we'll ex-
presses the situation in which our
country stands that he has requested
all of the papers of the country to
reprint it. 1t follows:
1.-The time has come when the peo-
pie OF the United States should look
the facts of the world war square,-.
in the face. 1t would be a very grave
mistake if there should be continI-
alton of the present tendency to be
lieve that the war is all but over, and
that the recent successes of the allies
IN France are but prelude to Ger
man collapse Nothing of the sort is
true. Despite the recent considerable
initial success of, the allied offensives,
the best military judgment is that /:
will be impossible now for the allies
to get military decision in the pres
ent year, and that the war, judging
by the military circumstances. must
go on at least through a campaign of
1918.
There is very general notion in
the United States that Germany must
soon surrender because of starvation.
This is possible, but unlikely. II
Germany can last through the next
two months, she will be able to go
through many months more, because
the new harvest will begin to come in
and. whether it be sufficient for an
other year or not, it will give Germany
food for long period of time.
"The chance of military decision
by the allies this year was conditioned
upon the arrival of Russia, remuni-
toned and reorganized, on the East
ern front. Unless every sign fails,
this will not happen. Russia to all
appearances, is for long period Of
time out of the war so far as an Of
fensive campaign is concerned, and
the real question is whether Russia
can hold any considerable number of
German troops on the Eastern front,
or will be compelled either to retreat
or to make separate peace.
Unless the United States shall,
within the next six months, put con-
siderable body of troops in France,
who will be able year hence to take
part in the campaign of 1918, there
is grave possibility that France may
collapse, owing to her great losses and
TO her now steadily diminishing man
power. Unless the United States, in
concert with Great Britain, can either
find a method for dealing with the
submarine or of revictualling England
and supplying France and Italy with
steel and coal, respectively, there
must be great possibility not alone
OF the collapse of France and the
withdrawal of Italy, but of crisis
in British food supply next summer
which may make peace by negotia-
ton inevitable and leave Germany,
If not completely victorious, yet in a
position to renew her attack upon
civilization. What is even more per-
5lous is that such a peace would leave
the control of the German empire in
the hands of those who have made
this war, and made it the kind Of
struggle it has become.
Had Russia been able to perform
her part, it would have been impossi-
bic for the United States to have ap-
preached the war with some deliber-
alton. 1t would have been possible