TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-05-10

nmauh xho German armies = 70
dictate terms TO the German Gov
ernment7
The English Government and the
English press tell US every day thai
such IL the situation. Why, then, Is
Il necessary for US TO stop the con
structIon Of our new battleshipS,
empty our s~torehouses Of food, strip
our treasury Of billions and send
our navy and army to save victorious
England from these poor, beaten
starving, mutlnous, despalrIng Ger
nHns2
Viii some one kindly help our
feeble thinking machinery to make
these two propositions square with
one another7
Now, let rs get down to brass
taeks and business--for war is no
time for academic theses or senti
mental nonsense. War Is purely a
matter Of business-and Of swift,
bloody, brutal business.
The huge armies which are now
swaylng backward and forward in
France are in the last gigantic
grapple of the war. A few months
a few weeks, probably-wil settle
the issue upon land.
OUR HELP TOO LATEf
The submarine warfare that is
being waged around England will
either succeed In its purpose within
a very few months or it will begin
TO fail-and the beginning Of failure
In that a S Is equivalent to an end
in failure.
Within the few months that are
bound to settle the ultimate result
Of the war, even Ii they do not
produce peace, we cannot give any
substantial aid OF any kind at all
that can possibly change the result
Of the present Spring and Summer
campaigns on land or sea. 1t is
impossible. Time does not permit.
The only help we can proffer Is
the use Of our navy, the use Of our
money, and the shipment OF what
food and supplies we can get through
to England.
And we affirm, and we know that
not n Of our naval and military
officers Of standing and experience
viii deny, that neither our battle
ships nor cur money nor our ship
ments Of supplies can have tho
slightest appreciate effect upon the
decisive battle raging In France or
can, In any substantial way. affect
the predestined success or failure
of the submarine siege Of England.
1T IS TOO LATE.
Within ninety days one side or
the other VIII be so definitely on
the road to victory that nobody will
any longer doubt the outcome.
And 1T SEEMS TO US THAT
WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING
AHEAD AND. SETTLING UPON
WHAT OUR DEMANDS AND OUR
POLICIES WILL BE.
One Of two events Is certain o o
to occur. Either the allies will
defeat Germany or they Will fail 10
defeat Germany and be forced to
drop the attempt.
Now, what ought our attitude 10
be In either event? What ia the
best preparation to make for either
event? What shall we decide upon
as the beat policy FOR AMERICA?
Surely these are questions that
ought to be discussed and settled
NOW by the Congress, instead Of
waiting till the event occurs. Surely
It Is common sense and common
prudence to mako up our minds
about what we mean to do.
Suppose the allies prove their
superiority In this campaign, and
Germany sues for peace. as she must
do in that event What is to be
our policy then?
Are we TO sit down at the con-
ference table and help to carve Ger.
many and Austria and Turkey and
Bulgaria in slices for England,
France, Italy, Rumauia, Serbia and
Japan?
Are we to attempt the unreason,
able feat OF forcing q government OF
our choosing upon another great
people - a government which they
would repudiate the instant the
hostile armies were disbanded7
are we to Insist that Japan, Ru.
mania, Serbia, Montenegro and Italy
shall become free ~democracies before
we viii lay down our arms?
Or are we to confne ourselves Ia
demanding the adoption Of an inter
national code defining the rights Of
neutEals in time Of war and the free
dom of the seas at all times-and
GUARANTEES that that code will
bo observed hereafter by every
Power - including England. which
never has respected either inter.
national law or the rights OF neutrals
on the high seas, no matter how
frequent or how solemn her agree
ments and pledges to do so7
What is to be our attitude at the
peace conference II the allies win
gentlemen of the Congress Of the
United States?
CONGRESS sHouL1 STATE
TERMS.
You are the only branch Of our
Government which has any constitu
tional right to declare war-and ii
is your right and your duty to saw
why you declared wan and what con
eegsIons on tie part Of Germany
win satisfy and remove the causes
OF your declaring war.
Then suppose that Germany de,
feats the allies and they sue for
peace. WHAT rs TO BE OUR AT.
: TITUDB THEM
Are We to consider that the
t original cause OF war ceases with
the cessation Of submarine warfare
and the probable submission OF our
j claims for indemnity to an arbitra.
I don tribunal7