The Washington herald., 1917-03-11

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even II she desires to do %. A small
expeditionary force sent to the western
front for moral effect, like the Russian
force that almost circied the world to
fight with the French in Champagne,
would be the most we could do, for we
could not train a large army for service
before next spring.
Need Sub Chaserr.
On the sea, II We cared to send our
battle feet to the North Sea, It would be
welcome reinforcement to Admiral
Beatty, but 1t is not thought here that
this would be done in any case. The
great need Of the moment is light craft
to hunt submarines. and American aid in
this work while much appreciated, will
be less effective because our navy is
weak In fast destroyers and oil-burning
cruisers, such as are employed with most
success against the U-boats.
But while soldiers and sailors are not
much impressed by the prospective aid
of America, fnanciers rub their hands.
Finance is getting to be a serious prob
lem in the entente countries, which are
obliged to keep up their credit abroad,
and in the event Of war the American
government would probably withdraw the
restrictions that make difficult Ameri.
can participation In allied loans.
Munitions. too. could be supplied in great
er quantities II American factories were
organized for war upon the Anglo-French
system. and the preparations made dur
ing the past year for doing this in case
of war, have been closely watched on
this side. Then, II the submarine war
fare against England meets with great
er success than Is anticipated and the
food situation here becomes serious, 1t
is thought that the United States, with
her great stores OF food, could send
over groups of foodstufrs
II It is sometimes a little CALLING to
American pride to observe the limited
role which opinion in England and France
assigns to us In the event of war, so
far as our armed forces are concerned,
an American here Is often embarrassed
at the weight given to the moral judg-
ment Of the United States.
British Are Hopeful.
The mere breaking of relations seems
to have tremendously relieved and cheer
ed that great section of British liberal
opinion which sees in American IDEAL
ism the greatest hope for world peace in
future, and looks to America to guarantee
the coming settlement II 1t is true as
Napoleon said. that morale is three-ffths
Of war, I think we have already q stag
gering blow against Germany. and In be-
nalI OF the entent powers.
4. How will the submarine war result?
Germany expects to starve England into
peace within a few months: II she did not
she would not have broken with the
United States and alienated all neutral
countries by throwing over all sea law.
I am conversant with a great many
things about the submarine war that
cannot be discussed; in fact, the U-boats
are the bugaboo OF the reporter, because
OF the number OF good stories" that are
common property but cannot
be written. And after examining the sub
marine problem from the German. as we'll
see the slightest chance that Germany
can win the war with her torpedoes.
The food situation here may become
serious. but looking at the matter from
the worst possible angle. and assuming
that none Of the many means now being
perfected to curb the U-boats proves ef-
fective. I do not think England can be
starved, or that her war efficiency can
be crippled. within the length OF time
that I believe Germany has at her dis
posal to effect this aim.
Teutons Would starve First.
Germany and Austria, all information
available here tends to show, would
starve before England; and II Germany
is proceeding on the assumption that
Britons cannot endure sacrifices and pri-
vations as we'll as Germans, but will cry
quits when they have to tighten their
belts, then Germany is making another of
her world-shattering misjudgments of ma
tional character.
The German argument used to impress
their own people and neutrals has been
worked out by Admiral Won Capelle's
press bureau and issued to the German
papers.
These German figures are alarming. So
are the new German submarines, which