The Washington herald., 1917-04-15
German Victory Would
Menace United States
Balderston Believes Wooden Ships Effectiv
Against Teutons and American Troops De-
sirable for Moral Effect on Entente Soldiers.


Of the American feet. but all felt that
these matters should not be discussed In
public. 1 can only say that the greatest
confidence is expressed here that Ameri-
can inventive genius will play large
part IN the offensive campaign against
the submarine and that the work done
In British waters by the small. fast sub
N America. is universally stated to have
been the most satisfactory. 50 that great
results are anticipated from more of
these sea wasps manned by American
sailors
The disposition Of the American fleet.
II Is felt, Is a question for Washington
alone, and It would be impairment TO Of
fer any suggestions or advice unless
asked for So far as the surface Of the
seas go, there is a wide margin of supe-
riority in European waters over the heets
Of the central powers, and no disappoint-
ment or resentment will be felt If It is
decided not to send the Atlantic fieet
away from home. On the other hand,
great enthusiasm would be expressed If
a different decision were taken. and II
would be q mistake to suppose that be-
cause naval warfare remains most OF the
time in a static condition, the addition
OF a large number Of Dreadnoughts might
not materially alter the strategic condi-
tions.
American Soldiers Wanted.
The British public does not anticipate
that American soldiers viii take an I'M
portaut part in the land lighting to come.
because il does not think the war win
last long enough to make 1t possible to
train and transport a new army to the
western front; here some soldiers are OF
a different opinion But there Is little
belief at present that the United States
will attempt to equip Immediately an ex-
peditionary force. This question. Ike
that OF the employment of American
ships. Is one which 1t is felt should be
handled delicately by outsiders.
Few events that have taken place in
the war would arouse such enthusiasm,
however. as the appearance of American
troops on the western front IL it is found
possible TO send them. They are desired
for the moral effect, and no illusions are
entertained, at least among military men,
as to the possibility of Americans arriv-
ing IN sufficient numbers this year 70
take an important part in the hghtins'
for Britons know well by bitter and re-
cent experience how long II takes to
raise. train and equip raw levies and turn
them into finished soldiers.
/ find the hope widely expressed that
a few regulars will come over; If not q
division. only a brigade. Their presence
in France, it Is said on all sides, would
wonderfully inspirit French, Belgian and
British soldiers, and correspondingly de-
press the Germans, for friend and foe
alike would regard a comparative hand
ful of Americans as symbolical of a great
reservoir OF manpower that could be tap
ped If necessary to prevent a German
triumph.
1t is no secret In Europe that the sup
ply OF men. outside of Russia, is run
ming very low. France and England may
be hard put to II to maintain their ex-
isting units for another years campaign.
| II one is necessary, while Germany and
above all Austria are in worse case than
their enemies. Even II no United States
troops cross the Atlantic, the raising OF
volunteer armies at home that are never
likely to fire a shot would have an ex-
traordinary effect upon the beligger-
ents For. in that case, these new
armies, formed of first-class fighting men
not the dregs of the nations like the
levies the European belligerents are now
| sending to the front. would constitute
potential reserves ready to deal the I'm
ishing blow in case the Germans held on
in the occupied territories through 1918
Assuming that the United States will
raise. equip and train armies whose ulti-
mate appearance in Europe is at least a
possibility. there Is much curiosity herr
as to how the instruction of officers and
men in modern warfare is to be under
taken. The art OF warfare has been ut
terly revolutionized in the past three
years, as the highly-trained. first-line
troops of Rumania discovered when they
clashed with men experienced in actual
( fighting under the new conditions. 1t Il
understood that American officers serv-
/ ing in the entente armies would be
called home to impart the benefit of their
experience, and no obstacle to their de-
I parture is likely to be raised by the
/ countries which they are now serving. II
British and French officers are wanted
I for fnstructional purposes, a limited
number of them can probably be spared
No such suggestion, of course, will come
from this side. Upon such deliberate
matter no Briton would comment at an
! but as an American the writer can point
out that considerations of pride and un-
willingness to profit by the lessons Of
others have proved exceedingly disastrous
I to several nations now in this war. And
If there is the most remote possibility
4 that United States soldiers will be sent
\ to Europe, the country owes them the
best possible training and leadership. To
send soldiers to fight in the highly spe-
kciaIized trench warfare Of the present
under officers who have not learned the
lessons Of the new tactics would be mur-
der. This Is a consideration for Ameri.
cans alone. because since no large Ameri
! can armies are likely to come over, the
reason why the allies would like to havS
Americans in France Is for their mora.
effect, not their prowess. and If we suffe-
avoidable casualties through our own ig.
norance. that will be our own lookout.
The system applied IN England sinc<
| early in the war has been to assign Z
certain number of wounded officers who
have been through the mill Of trench war.
\ faye to lecture to young officers anc
prospective officers and teach them, ir
4 actual field practice, the realities Of
modern war. II there are not enough
veterans of the west front of American
nationality to do this at home, In M
opinion foreign officers should be asked
to help.
One OF the most pleasing prospect
opened up by active American interven.
ton Is financial. Even the purse oi
Britain is not bottomless, and France
Is feeling the strain very severly indeed
\ The extension of unlimited war credits
by American bankers under the auspice.
of the United States government Will dC
more than anything, it is felt. short Of
the destruction Of the submarine menace
to make allied victory certain.
member of the French military mis-.
80 4