The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-09-26
What He Wanted to Know
ny Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Crane)

There's a good many things | don't
know about this war business" said the
bald-headed man. IL read a heap o papers
and magazines, and they give you bar
rels and reams o facts and figures, and
there's wonderful pictures of the fight
ing, and editorials explaining things
enough, you'd think, but there are a few
things l cant find out about, and they
worry me.
"Frinstance.
There's the little strip of Belgian coast
held by the Germans. The English have
the preponderance at sea why don't they
bring up their dreadnoughts, and cooper
ating with the land force. where they
also claim artillery advantage, simply
blow the Germans Oft the seashore? |
never did understand why they keep
punching away around Ypres and Arras y
and don't take Ostend.'
"Humphw grunted the man with
whiskers.
Then, again, when the Huns got
as FIR as they did toward Paris, why
didn't they go on? 1t looks like milf
tary machine that can hold the world
at bay for four years ought to have
been able TO go on a few miles further
especially while they were all fresh and
had the inertia of victory. What hap
pened to EN-? Oh, yes, know-Ive
read the explanations bHt-some time
I'd like to know what really happened to
the steam roller.
"Bosh :" said the man with the tor
toise-Shel spectacles.
Another thing I wonder about Is
what happened to that Russian army
that long while ago was looping right
along toward Constantinople. Also the
British army that took BaRdad and was
coming up nicely from the south to join
hands with the Russians. Somehow we
seem to get just about so far with the
blame Turks, and then just peter out, no
body seems 10 know why"
Nonsense said the red-headed man.
why. II the Russians have no ammu-
milton, and all that, and run whenever
The Germans get after 'em in earnest
why don't the Germans 90 on and take
Petrograd and Odessa and have it over?
What's to hinder EN- ?"
"Ho. no. The ideaw said the fat
faced man.
why don't the British and French,
who have more airplanes than their en-
emy, send one after another over Essen,
dropping bombs until they clean up the
place and stop the German munition sup
ply"
"Fiddlesticks" said the lean man.
why don't the Teuton submarines
blow up the British battleships?"
Nonsense" said the man with
large nose.
IF the military circle is supreme in
Germany, why do they allow the Reich
stag to 20 on? Why don't they send
the talking gentlemen home?"
ANY schoolboy would tell you that"
said the little man.
Hate makes hate; the French hate
the Germans far more bitterly than do
the English; why don't the Germans hate
the French more than the EngIish?'
"Blrb, brbr' said the squint-eyed man.
"Why didn't Germany overrun Hol-
land while she was taking Belgium
Holland would really stand her in better
stead now"
Heavens said the nervous man.
"The Germans have spunk and brains.
Haven't they enough to get rid of the
Prussian junkerdom that is running
them. utterly wrec<ing the most efficient
and virile race Of Europe"
"Ahl All, Ali" said everybody.
"And then" concluded the bald man,
rubbing his bald spot thoughtfully,
there's lot Of other things I'd like to
knog."