New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-15
Britain's Peril to
Conceive Must
Take Up Burden
in 1918 and
1919
Copyright isl7-The Tribune Association

i
madness not 10 be explained save as one
more proof that the German rulers had
taken leave of their senses. And it seemed
TO me that one Of the most appealing cir
cumstances in American Intervention, so
/ far as the Allies were concerned, was that
it insured TO these countries financial rela-
/ tons with the United States after thu war;
it assured them American money with
which to rebuild their ruins and resums
the work of peace.
Looking backward, it seems that the
moral effect Of American entrance WIS
what was most discussed wherever I went.
/ France and Britain never understood our
neutrality; II was a puzzle and problemj
it was a darkness in which they CROPPED
hopelessly. President Wilson was ineXpli-
cable; American ignorance OF the facts Of
the world war as Paris and London ssv
them mystery beyond solution. Particu-
ary in France there was a craving for the
Endorsement Of French action by the other
great Republic, which would abolish the
last doubt, the last protest of the pacifst
An Ally in All but Name
All this is passed now, and with it have
gone the criticisms that were once rife IN
London, and even in Paris. These critt
csms, it should be said, were far less BIT
ter this year than / found them on my
earlier visit. Already France and Britain
had recognized that the United States had
been in all but name an ally; that it had
provided the machinery without which the
war might have been lost For / think it is
the common belief in England and France,
quite as much as in Germany, that had tho
Allies not been able TO employ our indus
trial plant they might have succumbed to
Germany's superior preparation and more
quickly organized war industries.
The future effects of American partlci-
patton In the war cannot, believe, be ex-
aggerated; the relations between this coun-
try and France will hardly change, out
wardly, but II 80 much as an American
brigade goes to the front I do not think
it will ever be forgotten. And am equal
ly convinced that, no matter what material
support we give the French, ii will not
take the place Of an expeditionary army.
A million Frenchmeu have died for thu
cause the French never describe save az
civilization against force" and It was not
until the British sacrifices at the Somme
came, the loss there Of 100000 men, that
France recognized Britain and British ef-
fort for what it was.
Many British and French officers and
statesmen with whom talked, notably NJ.
Albert Thomas, the French Minister OF
Munitions, asked me anxiously about the
possibility that when America came in ma
terial vitality necessary to the Allies, par
ticularly steel in the case Of France, might
be diverted to the equipment OF new
American armies. President Wilson dealt
admirably with this detail in his mes
sage to Congress. l do not think the dan
ger can be exaggerated; certainly there
were no qualifications in the words Of AL
bert Thomas, who quite frankly pointed
out that American steel was matter OF
life and death with the French.
The Greatest Allied Success, Since the Marine
In sum, our entrance into the war will
be for the Allies, Immediately, hearten-
ing and a reinforcing which will have an
effect that will be incalculable, an effect
upon the firing lines, where American
flags have already been shown and busy
bulletin boards have transmitted the
news TO the German trenches. The ar
rival of small expedtionary force will
complete what the French and British
agreed would be the greatest moral vic
tory Of the war and the most important
success since the Marine.
Beyond this the material aid that we
render will be viewed in the light Of Allied
necessities. Since the submarine war is
the greatest menace to Britain and TO the
Allied cause, our aid in breaking this
blockade will be most eagerly expected.
as it will defeat what is regarded as the
last bid of the Germans for victory, the
p last hope Of Kaisersm. After this come
questions Of loans, questions Of credit,
with the eventual dispatch Of a great
army, if the war lasts for another year, as
, the best informed soldiers with whom l
talked in England believed.
The United States has now assumed tina
, position in the ranks of the foes Of Ger
: many long held by Britain. And Britain
| is holding the place, in part, Of Franco
) This year the great effort in the West and
the great sacrifice must be made by the
= British, and it means not less than mill
ion casualties. Next year. when we have
begun TO have a real army. there may be
need for our man-power, too. This Is the
! European view, where it IS recognized that
: there may be two more years Of war
= ahead and the defeat of Germany may not
: be achieved until attrition reaches point
!. still far Distant