The Washington herald., 1917-04-12
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
The Battle I'm III. snor


New York Tmes)
The Germans are not conducting a
strategic retreat along the line from Ar
ras 10 Lens. The Kaiser will send no
congratulations to Hindenburg on his VIC
torlous retirement. In one days fight the
British took over 5000 prisoners and more
than forty guns Last night this total
nae increased to more than 11.oOo prison
ers and over 100 guns, and was still GO
ing up. The intensity and accomplish
ment Of the initial British attack were
much greater than at the beginning OF
the battle of the Somme last year ri
the Germans could have resisted, they
would have held their ground. Whatever
the cause may be- the fact is that in
1871 the Germans cannot fight as well as
the British. II this is due to the superb
ority OF the British artillery, and not to
the superiority Of the individual British
soldier, the sum adds up to the same to-
tai.
However 1t will be remembered that
when the battle OF the Somme closed
last year that extremely modest and con-
servative reporter OF events, Sir Douglas
Haig. allowed himself a rarely exercised
optimism on one point. He said that a
deterioration in the German morale had
been noted toward the close of the four
months battle; that the Germans could
no longer fight so well. Coming from
such a cautious observer as Haig, the
statement had weight that would not
have attached to another. He took up
the battle in April where he let it go in
November. and found the morale of his
enemy not greatly improved over what it
was then: that may fairly be assumed,
and the superiority in artillery tells the
rest OF the story
Everyman's War.
Tho Independently
Of int n
terrible and glorious adventure-terri-
BILE as all strife is terrible glorious
because we fight as champions of
democracy and human rights-the ma
tion needs every man and every wo-
man in it. Every man and woman in
the land owes to the nation here and
now not only allegiance and loyalty.
but service. The obligation of service
in such a national crisis is universal.
II is unacceptable. 1t may be evaded
it cannot be ignored.
There are two main direct contri-
buttons that citizens can make to the
prosecution of the war. They are fight
ing power and money. Men can enlist
in the army and navy, and they can
pay taxes. Both are solemn obliga-
tions; no one who is able to assume
either obligation should be free from
II. No one should be compelled no
one should be permitted. to decide for
himself whether and to what degree
either obligation is his. The govern
ment should decide the matter for
him: his part should be merely to
accept the decision. willingly and
cheerfully.
This means conscription-an unpala-
table word. 1t is true. but wartime is
no time to sugar-coat things or to
evade realities. 1t means conscription
OF men and conscription OF money. The
government should determine how
many men are needed, and when and
how: 1t should pick out those who are
best fitted to do what is demanded of
them and are best able to go. Those
men 1t should summon to take their
places in the ranks and go forth to
fulfill their obligation to the nation of
which they are citizens. The selection
must be made intelligently, with due
regard to all the work that must be
carried on interruptedly and efficiently.
behind the lines. But there should be
no dependence upon voluntary enlist
ment-a system which is ineQuitable,
ineffective and crude.
So too with money. The government
should determine, with whatever of
wisdom and foresight it possesses, how
much money is needed and how and
when. 1t should then summon that
money from those who can and should
something. but those best able to as
sumo the burden should give most The
method employed in the income tax
and inheritance taxes should be adopt
ed; surtaxes. steadily increasing in rate
as the amount of income increases,
upon the wealth of the more prosper
Gus should be put in force.
Additions to the national debt are
inevita BILE for any country at war. But
the more the expenses OF the war can
be taken care of by taxation the bet
ter We should not pass on to pos
terity any larger burden than we must.
Universal service then must be our
national watchword as we prosecute
this righteous war: service wherever
We are needed, with body and mind
and resources and all. Our govern
ment, the representative and leader of
all, should determine what service we
are to render and when.
Treat All as One.
ATLANTA Constitution.)
The formal break with Austria was to
be expected, and a declaration Of open
warfare Is logically destined to follow It
The same applies with reference to the
entire group of nations comprising the
group known as tho central powers. be-
cause 1t is contrary to reason to suppose
that we can wage war against Germany
and remain at peace with Germany's al
lies, all fighting under the one banner Of
autocracy and monarchical oppression.
Just as we must, in pursuit of this war
mon cause with all Of the other nations
vi "a a..