Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-15
WANTS WILSON TO DIRECT
FORCES OF ALLIED NATIONS
Suggests That President BE Made SUI
prenie Commander OF Armies
and Navies.
SITUATION DEMANDS ACTION
War Has Not Evolved Another Man
Capable OF Evoking Confidence
Above Inherited Suspicious and
J~calousics OF Fighters of Huns.
by THEODORE &. ATCHIsON.

by THEODORE. G.. ATCHISON.
Progress OF the war in Europe has
made clear that if civilization is to
be preserved and democracy prevail
over the forces Of barbarian and au-
tocracy. the armies of Great Britain.
OF France. Of Russia. of ltaIy and of
the United States mus; be under the
control of one single commanding
head.
The verdict of history viii! be that
in their singlencss OF military COM
mand was tho strength of the Tcutons.
and that all the world was required TO
defeat them. because the allied powers
were compelled to pursue the war for
three years and more under military
commands divided according to tho re-
spcctive nut!onalit!cs Of the forces en-
gagged.
Many millions dead upon fields OF
battle since the Marine might not have
been called upon 70 give their last
fuil measure OF devotion" 10 the cause
of liberty had JoGre. or French. or
Kitchener, or -Asquith or Earl Gray.
or some Il parsonage been then
placed in supreme control and direc-
ton of all the allied forces, and had
the resources cf England and OF
France and Of Russia both been placed
under n single control acting in har-
mony with the supreme military com
nIand.
The barbarism Of the Germans. the
price the world has paid in
inc pattic SO far wa3cd 10 preserve
civilization has united the entente
powers so that to-day these nation
Antics are more responsive to the de-
mand for military unity than thew were
AT the beginning OF the war, and what
may be possible of commissioners
now IN securing unity Of action has
been until now practically impossihIc
but II Is Eet obvious that the en,ni-
tica aroused and inherited through the
Siash oil their economic and political
oetelopnaent have left Influences of
Jealousy and antaConism tina, c,,not
wholly disappear even in ,hc f,nn ~
a con!mon danger and in defonso y. -.
ccinron cause.
BRUTALITY OF
bRtThLIZING THE
INC world confron;s CRISIS. /; is
,'i'oNsioio Tor words to cXDrcss tho
horrors Of this war inflicted upon .bn.s
wi'H!h the circle OF it's operations. and
b. zones OF the months or the years
thiouSh which the ~coni!lC. may vo,
sAtend snail probably be manv ,in,es
intensified. Civilization is at .,sLn
anu more than civilization is inneriIad
,Hnu"hah nature Is iinperiicd. The bru-
sa..! OF the Germans threatens ia
daraoas~e tne world. Already the muir
ueEous methods of their warfare han.
PROVOKED "A readiness for ret,Ii,Ion
asdlnSt tnem, from which. a ,,e.r 49,
al me world. protesting 10 be ctyi,i,sIJ'
approval. '" ana ois-
no pTop9se that the allied forces b.
""ceo under 4 single military ron,-nI
80 counter to the policies which 49,
"cteri2ed these nation. in L
roIItical development, and f. a-.'n,,
.rfol'!on and precedent bur IN III
wwbtnn"t Crisis. when all of good for
=. - u "oFid mas atrived through
lure is imperiled. half the car;h
d battle field. millions dead. and o,bnr
m'.!!o:s about to be drawn into ~.
.eaEtui holocaust of death. i, is no ,hna
20 Stahd upon precedent and tr,d;,inn
'hehe would delay for even 4 Iav
- uSte"S OF GernIany and her allies.
Ioncediiis That tn. military situation
III Europe demands the unity of all tba
atHeu forces under a single command.
I"s mead II remain only 10 determine
from what nation of th+gc allied noyI-
ers th!s commander should be selected
~ less prospect for exciting racial
jealousy and susr'cion. and with rre,I,
er certaint.i of successful lead.rshir
~ appears UNREASONABLE. and no, ON.
OF mo allicd powers in I:urop. wo,Id
controNert IL. that the United States
is most logically the power which couId
proVide the man for this supreme di-
rection of the allied forces, and /, .Iso
appears that there is but, one nav ~
'he United States whose pcrsonalitv
ana position would assure his !cader.
snip the reclamation and devotion
necessary on the part OF the solJisrs
on the fields OF battle and the laborer,
IN inc shops and factories. Tina man
Is President Wilson.
cnief OF the army and navy Of the
United States.
hut 1t may be urged, tho situation
IN ruronc demands Il man i'll control
OF the allied forces possessing militar,
framing. and no, a civilian like FRESH.
cert Wilson. OF commanders in the
neld' as of Marsha! Haig. Of General
RETAIN. OF General Ca lorna, il is, of
course. required that they should be
men OF military training. that they
should possess military genius: but the
force needed 10 direct these
ers, TO coordinate their military on.
crations. TO preside over their coun-
cils, to c'nserve and direct the eco
norn!c resources Of the allied countries
necessary TO sustain the soldiers In.
the field. and to assure the orderly
progress of 'th,ir industrial affairs
could be more efficiently exercised by
n civilian like Pr esident Wilson. hold
ing the confidence of their allied gov.
eraments. than by any man trained in
the profession OF arms. selected from
amongst the military forces Of the en-
tente powers. The war has not VET
evolved a general in the entente armies
whose selection to the supreme COM
mand could evoke that implicit trus,
necessary 10 arouse the troops and the
people above tho Suspit ion and jeal-
oUsy inherited from former conflicts