The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-05-18

torious, yet in a position to renew her
attack upon civilization. What is even
more perilous is that such peace
would leave the control of the German
empire in-the hands of those who have
made this war, and made it the kind of
struggle it has become.
4 Had Russia been able to perform her
part, it would have been possible for
the United States to have approached
the war with some 'deliberation. 1t
would have been possible to have CIV
en- precedence to industrial organiza-
ton and to have armed our millions
and trained them more slowly. But
this condition does not exist, and can
not be expected to exist for another
year.
Let us face the facts as they are.
Today, despite their encouraging mill
tary successes, the allies are facing
situation that is serious, and likely
to become even more serious. The
war may yet be lost unless the United
States is prepared to send men to
France promptly, to begin without de-
lay the organization Of ocean trans
port and a systematic conservation Of
the national food supply. Russia at
least temporarily out Of the war;
France almost at the end of her re-
sources; Italy still incapable of en-
during successfully an attack organ
lied by German high command such as
destroyed Rumania and almost captur-
ed Verdun; Great Britain struggling
with q submarine blockade not yet
mastered and daily becoming more Sc
rious-this is the picture of the war
situation as it now exists.
The United States can supply the de-
cisive blow. 1t can supply the decisive
blow only if the american people put
aside all notions thai. ts@ir--sr'r'tipira-
ton IN the war IS to be small or limited
to contributions Of money or food. We
can win the war if we are prepared to
do in 1917 and 1918 what we did in
1863 and 1864, but the war itself may
be lost if two years are consumed in
organization at home in foolish effort
to train men imperfectly for a war
such as the present. We cannot hope
for success unless we squarely face
the facts that our allies are likely to
be beaten without our help and that
we shall lose the war, with all the fu-
ture peril that that will mean for us,
unless we act promptly, resolutely, and
put no limit to our effort,
The collapse of Russia is the great
est single incident advantageous to
Germany in the whole conflict. A
change of Russian rulers saved Fred
erick the Great. Germany will be saw
ed in the same way unless the United
States can, within one year take Rus
sia's place on the firing line and at the
same time abolish the real growing
threat of British starvation a year
hence.
The present situation of the war
does not warrant panic. But neither
does it invite optimism. The hardest,
bitterest, most dangerous portion OF
the struggle is yet to come, and unless
the United States is prepared for sac
rifce as great as the British and
French people have already made,
Germany may yet escape that defeat
which is essential to the restoration
of justice and democracy in the world |
and the vindication Of international
law now threatened with permanent
repeal. And if Germany escapes to-
day the danger for us tomorrow will
be beyond present e-timation. We are
in a war the isL ( # which is still in
doubt and the outcome of which will
infallibly be defeat unless we are pre-
pared to fight it as a war for our own
existence, calling for our best effort
and our ultimate strength.-New
York Tribune.