New-York tribune., 1917-07-27
Nation IN Peril,
Must Awaken,
Borah Warns
War Now Americas,
He Says-Advises State
inert of y. S. Aims
From The Tribune Buraul

history OF the United States. Senator
William E. Borah, of Idaho. declared in
the Senate to-day, has the outlook been
so serious and menacing as IL is to-day
as the result of the complete break
down of Russia, the growing success
of the U-boat campaign and the fact
that the French. hard pressed and
heroic, are nevertheless doing their ut
most without being able to move the
German line.
Mr.. Borah made a vigorous plea for
country to the seriousness of the stu
alton, to make the people understand
that this country is at war and that
it is in actual danger, that this war is
for their material welfare. and not
for their spiritual welfare"
Senator Poindexter, of Washington,
interrupted the Idaho Senator to ask
if Mr.. Boran did not believe if Ameri-
ca had not gone to war the war would
have come 10 us-that German soldiers
would be attacking on American soil
following the crushing OF France and
England II America had not entered
the war.
Says People Misunderstood
Some people," said Mr.. Poindexter,
actually advocate such course, on the
plea that we should make only defen-
/ sive warfare"
"But the case has not been stated to
! the American people in that way" re-
piled Mr.. Borah. "They suppose, if
! they believe what they have been told,
| that we are fighting for humanity, for
! the rehabilitation of certain countries
| in Europe and for the readjustment of
certain boundary lines in Europe.
II believe that the terms and condi-
tions which we are fighting for should
be made clear TO the American people,
and the terms and conditions on which
we would be willing to make peace. |
/, do not believe that Germany would ac-
cept such an offer at this time. No one
believes that, with Russia permanently
: cut of the battle, with France at her
! peak, but not moving the German lines,
and with the destruction of the worlds
tonnage by the U-boats increasing rap
! idly, Germany would accept any peace
unless she dictated the terms. But
these terms ought to be given to the
American people so they will know
what they are expected to fight for.
Public Needs Waking Up
"You cannot carry on a war without
a sustained public opinion behind you,
, and at the present time such q public
opinion does not exist in this country.
"If the American people realized
what was at stake in this war, and the
danger to their own country if this
war is not won, the Senate would not
now be appropriating millions of dol
lars to improve creeks down which a
duck could not float.
"a few weeks ago Russia made her
declaration of peace without annexs-
tions or indemnities, but found no re-
sponse among the Allies. Ny opinion
is that if the United States had taken
a bold stand at that time for that posi-
ton Russia would be in 100 per cent
better position to-day"
After discussing the Russian collapse
and the inability of the French 10
break the German lines Mr.. Borah
read at length from an article by Ar
: thur II. Pollen, the naval expert, in The
Tribune. showing how the U-boats
were increasing their haul and were re-
ducing the worlds available tonnage to
a point where, in eighteen months,
there would be a total of 100000
tons loss net, after allowing for all
possible construction.
Demands Economy
Turning to taxation, Mr.. Borah de-
dared that Congress should trim every
possible dollar from every appropria-.
ton bill not essential to the conduct OF
the war.
81 want to say now that the business
men of this country had better get in
/ terested in this question right away"
! he said. "For we have got to raise
money, and there is only one way TO
/ dc it-go to those who have got it."
/ He added up the total Of bonds al
ready foated in foreign countries, to-
/ falling $4,000 100000, without count
| ing the s1O,000,0O0 600 which the United
! States will have out before the end OF
/ the year.
"The American people" he continued.
/ "had better send up prayer Tor
Kerensky, for il he meets either an
assassin's bullet or failure it will mean
! that millions of American boys VIII
I llnQ RTdEeS III EdiOpCdH SNi'' -
! pie must realize chat the hour OF sacrl-
! fee has arrived.
"Viviani, in that remarkable address
! bidding farewell TO the American peo-
pie, told US that the great mistake the
/ German government nade was In not
knowing the French and English peo-
/ pie, that they sent their ambassadors
to France and TO England to study gov
ernment and practise the arts OF Dip
lomacy, but they misunderstood or did
not read at all the noble qualities OF
the masses Let US not as govern
ment make that same fatal mistake
with reference 70 our own people.
| Let US keep in mind that the ways OF
government and the paths Of diplomacy
overshadowed by no sacrifice are often
far from the sad and dusty lanes down
which the people march TO war.
Government and diplomacy may be
interested in the future Of Constanti-
nople and the Bagdad Railway, but out
yonder In the open, where every move
! toward war means sorrow and sacri-
fee, where families are to be separated
and broken. where husband and broth
er and son are 10 be offered upon the
altar. must be our country-you must
speak to them Of things of home and
OF the flag, you must give them an
American issue for which to die.
after we have declared war and
-------------