New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-05
Delay in America
Imperils Victory,
Declares Burton
u. S. Must Awake to Win
War in Two Years, Says
London Editor
Criticises Congress
Legislative Authorities Fail
to Grasp Magnitude of
Their Task

An outspoken warning that the
United States must wake up TO win the
war within the next two years was
given by Pomeroy Burton, editor OF
"The LONDON Daily Mail in an ad-
dress before the American Luncheon
Club, in London. Mr.. Burton recently
returned to England after a three
months visit in America, during which
he investigated conditions in all parts
Of the United States. copy OF his
remarks has just been received in New
York. He said;
First Of ell, will briefly outline the
more important conditions which actu-
ally exist there to-day, and will then
cndeavor to make clear how important
il is that some OF those conditions shall
be reversed in the immediate future II
the United States is to become an ef-
fective factor for war on large scale
within the next twelve to eighteen
months.
Declares L. S. Must Act Now
"And, unless matters are taken vigor-
ously in hand by those who understand
the full significance Of the war situa-
ton and its bearing upon the interests
and future of the United States, say,
without hesitation, they will not be-
come an effective factor for war on
large scale within that time.
at is Of first importance that the
people as a whole shall be brought to a
full understanding of their individual
responsibilities in connection with the
comprehensive and farreaching war
programme which President Wilson is
now endeavoring to put through at
Washington.
81 am not overstating the fact when
I tell you that the war situation to-day
is grave in many Of its aspects, and
that the help Of the United States is
going to be needed on large scale.
81 am not one of those who believe
that the war is as good as won.
Neither am one OF those who think
the war is nearing its end.
There is, il is true, a possibility that
food shortage and other disturbing in
tcrnal conditions in Germany may
bring about a sudden collapse of the
whole German war machine, but 10 IA
the Judgment Of the best critics that
this development is wholly unlikely
There is apparently sound reason for
believing that we are steadily aP-
preaching an enormous trial of mill
tary strength. Based upon wide eXpe-
rience i'm this war, and also upon at
least fairly accurate information as TO
the composition Of the cOntending
forces 10 be engaged, IL is the calcu-
lated Judgment Of those who ought to
know that the outcome of this supreme
test will be extremely serious losses on
both sides, and no decision.
May Become Determining Factor
"If that view is correct, then there is
bound to follow a considerable period
Of recuperatiye effort and comparative
calm on both sides. 1t is during this
period that America should be able 20
bring into play her full strength on the
side Of the Allies.
If she is able TO do this within the
next twelve TO eighteen months, then
America stands a glorious chance or
becoming the determining factor in this
great war.
con the other hand, If the United
States does not quickly organize, and
is not able to throw her full strength
into the conflict at this psychological
moment. then il is no remote posi-
bility that this war might continue for
another five years or more
The people of the United States as
q whole are not aroused, and the bulk
Of them do not all understand the war,
"The main reason for this is the
close censorship policy OF the Allies,
which has kept the people OF all ueu-
trail countries, including the United
States. from learning the facts and
getting the true spirit and meaning Of
the war into their minds.
Coupled with this is the equally
important fact that President Wilson's
strenuous efforts of the past two years
to keep America out of the war have
been construed by great masses of the
people as meaning that the war was
something quite foreign to them, and
therefore something about which they
have no need TO concern themselves.
They regard it as a European war,
long way off, and are inclined to resent
their having been drawn into 1t even
now. President Wilson's course dur
ing the first two years of the conflict
unquestionably tended to create a
sense Of indifference 10 the war issues
in the minds of the American people
generally.
"Now that those leaders Of public
opinion who held such views have
awakened TO a full realization Of the
fact that they were wrong, they find
themselves confronted with a very awk-
ward dilemma they have discovered
that this public sentiment, so slowly
and so surely created on what now
proves 10 have been an utterly false
basis, cannot so swiftly be reversed "a
the seriousness Of the present war sit
uation imperatiyely demands.
Criticises Congress
"The next weak link in the American
chain IL the calibre of the men in con-
troll Of the legislative machinery at
Washington, many Of whom have only a
vague understanding Of the interns-
tional situation in which the United
States is destined 20 play such an inn
portant part.
Apart from Congress. there are
many other weak spots at present. all
tending to make the Presidents task
extremely difficult.
Another important factor which en-