The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-07
MUST PREPARE
TO SACRIFICE
MILLION MEN
Washburn Tells Represen-
tatives World War VIII
Require Greatest Effort.

"dsHiHBLOAt May Tine people o.
the United States must be prepared Il
offer UP the lives Of 1000, 900 men, II
necessary to win this war. / am ap.
palled at the lack OF knowledge we
have in this country OF the actual con-
ditions in the warning countries and OF
the imperative duty to prepare for q
struggle lasting two or even three
years"
This was the warning given 800
members Of the house Of representa-
tives and their wives and friends by
Stanley Washburn of Minneapolis,
who has been on the Russian front
for The London Times and other pa
pers and periodicals since the begin
ming Of the war. Mr.. Washburn has
since coming to Washington, and since
the declaration of war, delivered lee
lures before the National Press club
and other organizations in an effort to
bring influential men to a realization
of the task that is ahead of the Unit
ed States.
Mr.. Washburn's talk before members
Of the house probably has done more
than any other one thing to bring the
truth home to those who have to do
with legislation to meet war condi-
tons.
House Leaders Present.
Among his hearers were Chairman
H. d. Flood and other members of the
committee on foreign affairs, Chairman
John Fitzgerald OF the committee on
appropriations, with other members of
the committee, Chairman A. F. Lever
OF the committee on agriculture, Chair
man L. A. Dent Of the committee on
military affairs, Chairman Lemuel
Padgett of the committee. on naval af-
fairs and other influential members
with the rank and file of the Republi-
cans and Democrats well represented.
Speaker Champ Clark and Minority
Leader James r. Mann were kept
away by other engagements.
The United States must prepare for
a. long uphill pull" said Mr.. Wash
burn. America must not be as Russia
was in the beginning of the war. The
men at the head of the affairs there
then did not realize that they were in
for long war, and they did not pre-
pare for it. The consequence was the
loss Of hundreds Of thousands of men,
They had to give UP territory they had
gained because the military leaders
did not grasp the fact that the
subjugation of Germany and her allies
would take years instead of months.
Let us not fall into the same error. We
must be prepared for a. long struggle.
We must make sacrifices such as the
people of Russia, of England and of
France are making today. Everybody
must put his shoulder to the wheel and
push forward.
Russian Situation Serious.
"The situation in Russia today is
grave. Germany is using every infiu-
ence it can bring to bear upon the
present provisional government to
make a separate peace. L do not be-
lieve Russia will give way. The fact
that the United States is prepared to
supply money to her and her allies,
and to send men to the western front,
will, ! believe, stiffen the nation, and
I do not believe Russia will give way
to the pressure that is now being
exerted.
But we must be prepared for pos
sibility of Russia making separate
peace. If this should happen, 100000
German soldiers now fighting on the
northern and eastern fronts will be re-
leased for operations against France,
and the United States on the
west front. This makes it necessary
FOR us to contemplate the necessity of
sending large army to Europe, with
p possible sacrifice of 100000 men,"
Mr.. Washburn urged upon the con-
gressmen the vital necessity of pub
lefty campaign to spread the news
throughout Russia that America is in
he war, and in it for the duration of
this worldwide conflict. He told them
hat If Russia will only hold out, VIC
tory for the allies will be assured.
, Publicity Used by Hriton.
England has already started a cam |
oaign of publicity" he said. ''She
at Petrograd a huge Office |
and large staff for this pur-
ion pictures and literature must be |
placed before the people. We have
'oted $7,000,000 to kill the Germans, |
tut none to inform the Russians that |
he United States is lining up behind |
hem. The immediate effect of a |
both by the Russians and |
he Germans as to what we can and |
will do will be amazing.
Americas intention is now the /
;reatest factor in the war The spend
ng of sufficient sum to make that
plain may prevent the neces-
ity of burying on foreign soil a large /
'ortion of the million men we intend
o raise. 1t will give Germany posi-
i've assurance that her corner in |
mem has been broken, just as the
efinite knowledge of an intention to
liant additional grain will break a
corner in that grain. based on the
isible supply.
"Ours should be a nationwide cam
align. IF both Russia and Germany
all to appreciate our real Intentions;
. Russia should retire with an accom-
anying failure of discipline, or be
and the Germans on the
astern front be released for western
FORK, then the war will revert to the
tatus of before the battle of the
Tarne, and it may last three years. If
.merica does her whole duty, / think
he war will be over within a year"
Mr. Washburn told the members of
ongress of the Importance Of the work
) be done by the American railroad
commission in Russia.
IAN important part Of their labor
hould be the speeding up of traffic on
ne trans Siberian railroad. in order
nat the supplies may get to the front"
e said. 'The Russians are splendid
eople, but they lack cohesion. and the
Illusion of the live American spirit
hown in the work of this commission
nd other American agencies and in
ne dissemination of knowledge of
hat America will do will help amaz-
Ugly in bringing the war to an end.
Avoid Rumania's Error.
II have been in three countries,
hitch started in with the idea. laterl
svised, that the war; to them. was not
italy serious. These are Russia,
ngland and Rumania. don't want
! see America nav the nI.ica thew have