Evening star., 1917-09-26
WARuKELYTOEND
IN 1919, ,SAYSSWEDE
Baron Carl Ericsson Gives
Views on Americas Part
in Conflict.
SEES VICTORY THROUGH AIT
BY HJALMAR LUNDBERG.
Especial Correspondence Of The Even
Ing Star and Chicago Daily News.D

BY HJALMAR LUNDBERG.
tspeeial Correspondence Of The Even-
ing Star and Chicago Daily News.D
STOCKHOLM. Sweden. August 27-
Americans of Swedish birth and descent
will be interested in the views on
Americas part in the world war ex-
pressed to me today by Baron Carl
Ericsson, retired general in the Swedish
army. who is the nephew of John
Ericsson. inventor of the famous mon
itor of the American civil war. Baron
Ericsson has devoted ms long life to
military questions and himself played
an active part in two wars, one OF
them on the American continent.
John Ericsson left a brother in
Sweden, Nils Ericsson, who became tho
creator OF the Swedish railways. and
his son. Carl Ericsson, then only a
young officer. went to Mexico in 1862
with the French army. Twice injured
and left with the dead on the battle
field, he had already acquired a famous
name for himself. when in 1855 he
fought on 1talys side against Austria.
Returning to Sweden. he made bril-
liant military career and for a long
time held a prominent political position
as member of the Swedish parliament
During the present war Gen. Ericsson
has been an active champion in favor
of the allies. He has written a num-
Der of newspaper articles, and in 1915
published a booklet against the pro-
German and anti-Russian influence
in Swedish politics. which has appeared
also in French. with the title. 'Queiques
refiexions dun Suedois."
Expects Enormous influence.
q. ..x <-. a.. r,,tx>A e<.<>."
said Gen Ericsson. "an enormous in
duence on the issue of the war. Tho
great American nation will certainly
carry out this extremely important
task with the promptness and deter
rnination which are their special quail
ties and one can be sure beforehand
that what is promised will be done"
What do you think about the rea-
sons for America to leave Its neutral
position?" I asked
Germany has succeeded In its con-
tinuous efforts to get almost the whole
world to be its enemy, he replied
The special reasons which have de-
in the war are various according to
their geographical position. All our
European states had undoubtedly at
the beginning had some purely mill
the assailed had a chance against tho
aRgressor. But it Is obvious that the
desire for peace is the source OF Ameri-
cas- desire to fight. President wilson's
earlier action seemed to US mere In
Sweden as one continuous protestation
against war itself. and 1t has been easy
to follow the development of the paci-
fist movement in America up to the
point when 1t turned into declaration
of war-namely, constitution OF an
armed police force for subduing the
power that disturbed the worlds peace
Such an armed police force can only
be created on the battlefield. and there
only can the worlds peace be obtained.
because such a peace is inconceivable
before the military power OF the only
big military state is brought down ana
has been compelled to show its own
failure. The ewes of the whole world
are now directed toward America In
expectance of her contribution to this
result"
Principal Military Means.
which are the principal military
means you think America will employ
in the war;" I asked.
You must not expect an immediate
action from the American army, he
replied. You must remember that
there is an important lack of officers.
The glorious English army has had the
same experience. but now they are up
to the point in everything. When 5O0,-
600 American soldiers have received
their necessary instruction. then all
the best men can be picked out, sports
men or intellectuals, to be ofhcers ana
leaders of the next 100000 recruits, and
so on.
II do not believe in any breaking
through OF one or the other of the
hostile lines. There are on both sides
too many defensive positions arranged
behind the front for any victorious
troops to walk right ahead. But a Wig
orous offensive carried on by the fleets
of the air would press the hostile lines
back farther and farther. One year
from now the allies will have an aerial
fleet of such dimensions that probably
not a single German flyer viii be able
to leave the ground.
with a never-ceasing war industry
producing guns and shells and hyins
machines, with combined French.
English and American general staff to
use them in the right way. the enemy
will be pressed inch by inch back into
his country
remarkable military achievements dur
ing the war?
Thinks Marne Great Achievement.
The battle of the Marne is a grand
achievement characteristic of the French
nation and admired by the whole world.
but among other feats of military skiii
which have perhaps not received
enough recognition stands as No. |
Grand Duke Nicholas retreat in 1915
with an army much inferior to the at
lacking enemy He masked his terrible
lack of arms and munitions with a most
vigorous offensive through Galicia.
which forced his troops far into the
When the moment came
to turn back he made that marvellous
retreat leading the whole army from
one endangered position to another.
often without losing a single man and
without giving the Germans any chance
to strike bold stroke. at last taking
W he
he could hold the enemy back with the
hts soldiers he armed with oak sticks.
AZ have seen reported in German
ne newspapers
less admiration is the transportation of
the frst American Army to Europe,
done quicker than anybody expected,
in snite of U-boats and mines. and
without the loss of a single man."
when do you think true signs OF
neace will begin to show"
No Peace in Next Year.
There is certainly no peace for next
wear None of the leading men in
America or England or France, I be-
lieve have the slightest idea of max
inc neace with Germany where the
military power is Identical with the
and which has brought
the whole world against 1t. Under such
it is impossible that any
domestic movement on the part of
some German citizens can bring about