New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-22
Appeal to People
Urges Action to
Prevent Disaster
america Not Winning the
War" Because of Aimless
Bickering, Is Charge
fFrom Tho Tribune Bureau

IRON Inc 1riDune bufeAuI
Washington, July 2l.-The news
papers of America know more than
they dare to print, but are throttled
by the invisible censorship controlled
in Washington" declares an appeal to
patriotic Americans. headed America
Is Not Winning the War" sent broad
cast over the country to-day by the
executives Of the National Committee
of Patriotic and Defence Societies, me
Patriotic Education Society and tho
Comforting Committee on National Pre-
paredness.
The appeal follows:
America is not winning the war.
Talk and indecision reign supreme
in Washington. Our chiefs are not
strengthening the weakest lines OF our
chain of offence and defence. BicEer-
ing and delays are tolerated.
Demand Facts"
Americans, awake! Demand facts
not the optimistic imaginings with
which officials fill our press. What
boots it to have an army If it canrot
be shipped to meet the foe? What
good to send an army Of conquerihg
size to hostile fields if we have no
ships to maintain il and supply The
necessary millions Of tons of NUM-
tions? What benefit to. economic on
food or increase food production If
ships to maintain our soldiers and feed
our famished Allies are not simultane-
ously available?
"Why should we tolerate personal
sduabbles in high places if ships are
not being built? Why should we ac-
cept anybodys' programme for ship
building when it does not include every
ship that can be built in minimum time
capable of crossing the ocean and en-
during at least year?
1--WE are failing in our part against
the submarine, despite the Navy De-
partment optimsts. Some valuable
ideas, proved effective abroad. are
scorned by our Navy Department, but
the censorship protects the delinguents.
Why should we be content with no.
foot submarine chasers when experts
who know the North Sea say that 200
foot craft are the limit for sea SER
vice! And yet the more destructive
the submarine the greater need for
submarine destroyers.
Victory Delayed
"This war will be lost or Victory de-
layed at frightful cost:
81. For lack of business management
in high places. =.
"2. For want Of ships to enable
American men, supplies and food TO
support our allies and hammer our en-
enies.
abe not misled. We are not getting
the ships. Nobody has yet totalled the
vast tonnage needed for carrying out
present plans. No programme yet pre-
sented includes all the ships that could
be built. Responsible parties offering
to put up bonds and build hundreds OF
ships in record time were turned down
over three months ago, and are still
turned down. Is the American public,
which pays the bills and furnishes the
blood Of loved ones, to atone for the
mistakes of Washington, going to en-
dure these conditions in silence! II
eight months from now lack of ships
and foresight and arithmetic prove our
undoing, who will be to blame? Let il
not be you!
1.-THE nation has been tolerant. We
have voted money and CONSUMPTION. but
that cannot win the war. Subma rines
work day and night, and their victories
are not all totalled in official reports.
Those reports are inteded TO deceive the
enemy, but they fool you most Do you
dare gamble with your country's safety
BY not enforcing the Strengthening Of
our weakest link?
"Forec Truth from Press"
Members of our patriotic and de-
fence societies. make your local news
rr, H. 49,
whole truth, untinged with July Fourth
eomplaceney. They know more than they
dare to print, but are throttled By the
invisible censorship controlled In Wash-
ipgton. Stir up your people in Congress
to pass food, export control, enemy spy
snd other uncompleted legislation. and
tives build ships, every possible ship.
Immediately. Nothing less will win the
war.
"Itaiy, Russia, France, are stagger-
ing for want Of coal or other things
carried in ships. Will you let them
fall and bring the fight to your own
shores?
"Your action may decide. Get every
club and society in your locality to
act IS organisations and individuals.
Demand an accounting Of your national
servants who hold the relns. Have you
not the right to know whether they ore
driving to victory or defeat? Speak
on. to-day. Submarines already in six
months this year have destroyed more
tonnage than tho world has even
planned 70 build In twelve months.
Must foresight and constructive intelli-
genes be limited to the Germans?
Can democracy learn only through
disastcr7 II 90, woe betide democracy
and ito mon, women and children. Act
to-day"
The appeal was addressed to every
patriotic society in the UAited states,