The Washington herald., 1917-12-08
America Needs Speed
So Says Sergt, Henri Chomard in Commu-
nication to Friend in
This Country.
This Country.

OsreL Hnr chomard. esnsr On DE ssis
frontier for nearly three ycan and profesu IN
the Lycss Of Boug-oo Breas IN time of psaos
has written the foliwing istter 70 his mend
and former colieaeas, F1noeseo yeutrez.
Ph- d.. university Of ChicAsc.l
Pontariier. France,
Ny dear Francois:
Il Is high time that I answered
your good letter. I shall speak very
little about the war, but Il II din
cult to be silent on this point under
the present circumstances.
do not doubt the intensity Of the
effort in the United States. but what
is now needed most is speed. During
the first two years Of war, the econo-
mic conditions In France had hardly
changed, the prices Of foodsttIffs had
not increased much, but IL has been
quite different during the last year.
And life threatens to become precari-
Gus for the laboring masses and en-
ployes living on q limited salary. Be-
sides, the French people could not
put up with a rationing like that Of
Germany: they wouldn't want to. The
presence Of numerous English soldiers
in France has thus far contributed TO
the high cost Of living. Finally the
arrival OF the hrst American soldiers
has already caused all prices TO ad-
vance. They pay regardless OF price
France which produces much less "a
part OF the land being no longer
cultivated and a very fertile part Of
her territory being occupied by the
enemy and which is deprived of q
part Of her imports because OF the
submarines. must nevertheless con-
tribute her share TO feed the allied
armies within her borders: whence
the increasing scarcity Of foodstufts
for the civilian population and q
soaring Of prices which would not
have been thought possible in an agrf-
cultural country.
ut is therefore necessary that
America hasten her effort. What are
at present the conditions on the
French front after three years Of
war? OF front extending over more
than 700 kilometers, our allies are
holding only about l50 kilometers,
Thus the heavy load is stiIl falling
Almost entirely upon France and the
appearance OF America on the scene
should relieve exclusively France,
which has suffered most from the
war.
am still skepticaI as to the out
come Of events in Russia. fear that
that country will not recover from
its internal convulsions. At any rate,
IL is quite low. and I do not know
whether Kerensky will be able to
refioat the ship OF state. It is p
great misfortune for the allied
cause. France is counting that
America will more than make up fol
Russia from a military point Of view.
AS for her financial assistance, no
nation could do what she has already
done for the allies.
I know that the Amtrican people
are carrying on war without en-
thusiasm and by sheer necessity. They
accept the solution which their dis
tinguished President has chosen for
them. For a long time we here
(and I in particularly thought that
President Wilson was not sufficient
ly sensitive to the insults which Ger
many was forcing upon him. To-
day, being better Informed, rec
ognize my mistake. America, com
mercial and industrial country, did
not want war at all. as late as a
year ago. She was essentially paci-
fist Credit is due to her President
for moulding the peoples opinion IN
favor of war. He saw that Ger
many's victory would be then end of
all democracies. of America herself,
and, in a short time and very pa
tiently, he succeeded in instilling his
views into the minds of the Amer
ican people, who deserve credit for
following him. l have, of course.
read the Presidents addresses, but ]
could not possibly summarize them
here. 1 have too much to do and
read the newspapers feverishly.