New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-15
u. S. Not Able or Willing to
FIGHT in 1918, Says Berlin
German Government Spreads Its Views on America rar
ticipation in War; Criticises Military PreParatonS'
Doubts if Army Can Be Transported

troOps means great uangel W an.
lea. because these soldiers, who might
be lost. are absolutely necessary 10
train other units. 49,,
"When will the training IN the Uhlt,9
States have sufficiently progressed
Not before next spring VIII I'4oV'VVV
men be poorly drilled; the second dratt
of 100000 men will not be drliled pc
fore tho end of 1918. America cannot
send all her 400, 900 men, because a
great part Of them will be needed as
administers, for coast defence, IN Mex
leo. etc.
"Thc transport is limited through the
lack Of tonnage. Five tons are neces-
sary for every man, according to an
estimate, and in this connection IL
should be noted that the first American
transports arrived without cannon
About 100000 tons are necessary 10
transport 100000 or 100000 men.
Declares Task D Too Great
"The Journey from the Unite States
to Europe and back to America taxes
from four to five weeks. therefore,,
40 600 or $4,000 tons Of shipping wouId
have to be employed during the latter
mart of the winter and the summer 10
transport an army Of 100000 or 4OO,VUV
men across the Atlantic Ocean up 10
the latter part Of the summer, 1918.
America is not capable of sucn an
achievement. The greater part or the
American merchant marine is employer
10 supply the Entente, and America
uses the remainder of her shipping 10
satisfy her own economic needs. Also
II must be considered that the tonnage
of the whole world is decreasing, thanks
10 our U-boat war. The seized German
vessels are being used IN favor OF the
Entente.
"rven if the above estimate be in
correct. there arises the question;
How will the world war be influenced
in case 100000 or 100000 Americans
are sent to Europe? In this connec-
tion the fact must not be lost sight
Of that the divisions are not YET
trained, do not even equal the Eng
lish Territorial divisions, the greater
mart of which failed. They were equsi
enemies not before the summer OF
1916.
"The prerequisites Of training. an
army were more favorable in England,
because she had at her disposition
numerous force of trained officers ana
soldiers. altogether 100000 or sOO,OOO
men. 1t took England, nevertheless.
eighteen months to create an army oil
millions Of men.
Compared to Rumanian Army
cone is justified in concluding that
tho American army. perhaps, equals
the Runanians when they fought us
for the first time.
america will be unable TO exert
deciding influence on the war IN 1918
Even if she earnestly desires to inter
fere, it is very doubtful whether she
will send troops 20 Europe, for she
cannot bring about a decision IN 1918,
but will assume great risk. should
America use up her dozen divisions in
useless frontal attacks, she needs
months to create new ones.
"Also in other theatres OF war
Americas participation IS not to be
expected, neither in the colonies nor
in Mesopotamia, for it is still more
difficult to transport troops there.
therefore. one arrives at the con-
clusion that America is neither willing
nor able to take any action in 1918.
But she earnestly buckles down TO the
task of creating an army and navy
and of charging her merchant marine:
For this purpose Wilson made use OF
the opportunity offered by the world
war.
40 be of any real value, this army
must be trained in a European theatre
of war; therefore it is transported
over here. The purpose is to obtain
trained skeletons. Another aim is to
render the Entente moral assistance
and to exert some influence on US.
in the summer Of 1917 the Entente
was in dire need of this moral as
sistancc. and the same is true to-day.
For this reason news Of new army
measures and the arrival of American
troops at the firing line are being
circulated"