Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-26
Major General Maurice, Di-
rector of Military Opera
tons, Compares Situation
With That of Civil War,
THREE ELEMENTS OF
ALLIES SUPERIORITY
Like Northern States During
Rebellion, Entente Powers
Have Blockade, Man Power
and Wealth in Their Favor,


London, Jan. 25-The army's
views of peace discussions were ex-
pressed to the Associated Press today
in an interview with Mai, Gen. +. Il.
Maurice, chief director of military OPP
erations at the war office, who de-
clared the position of Great Britain
was closely analogous to that of the
federal states in the American civil
war at its most critical phase, mas
much as the British. like the north,
possessed three great points of super
iority-the blockade, man powGr and
resources OF wealth. General Maurice
said:
II cannot say very much about ac-
tual military operations as General
Winter has taken charge on all fronts,
even in MesOpotamia, where heavy
rains prevent operations. But | do
want to say something about the peace
discussions, again brought to our at
tention by the presidents message to
the senate. My comments are entirely
from military standpoint.
Greatest Effort to Come,
'If | am correctly informed by ex-
tracts from various American papers
1t seems that Il certain section of
American opinion holds that with tra-
ditional British bulldog obstinacy we
are keeping UP hopeless war without
any chance of favorable termina-
ton. The military facts do not sus-
tain such an opinion, The Associated
Press may recall the first interview I
gave after the Somme offensive began.
was asked point blank by the corre-
spondent If the great push had be-
gum and I repli2d that II by the big
push Great Britalfs maximum effort
were meant, my reply must be no.
And in recalling this. | might say !
was looking a long way ahead.
Civil War Analogy.
The condition of Britain, if an his
torical analogy is followed, may be
compared with the position of the fed
eral states at the critical stage OF your
last great war.
"The north had been very unfortu-
nate in the early stage of the war but
like the British, it possessed three
great points of superiority in the
blockade, man power and wealthy re-
sources. We started unprepared. We
had to make a great army from a very
small one, and not only had to supply
this vast army but had to find suitable
commanders, as, recalling your his
tory, you will remember the north
also had to do our blockade is Caus-
ing some Inconvenience to the United
States, but your civil blockade caused
actual starvation in Lancashire, when
the mills we're compelled to close by
lack of cotton.
Zenith Not Reached.
"ln man power we certainly have
not reached the zenith, while the prpg-
ress Of the present war loan will show
our wealth still ample for our pur-
pose.
People who are closer to public
opinion than tell me that a vast bulk
of our people are not ready to con
clude peace. Undoubtedly a small
section of our public considers our
chances of victory so hopeless that
they are willing to make peace on al
most any terms, as were certain
groups in the northern states. If the
idea that we are stubbornly fighting
without hope of victory is at all preva-
lent ] am sure it will be useful to call
the attention of your readers to the
above civil war analogy. Quoting a
higher authority than myself, In the
form of General Haig's last dispatch,
you can see that the army would con-
slider peace at this stage of the war
nothing short of a crime"