The Washington herald., 1917-02-24
What Leading Newspapers
Say on the War Situation
saving Time.

W ..~~~ ~@~~o
Say on the War Situation
saving Time.
(New York Times.)
The British hope of ending the
war this year has two wings; one the
spring advance on the somme, the other
the pressure of the blockade. This does
not mean the weakening of the spirit
of the Germans at home by Starvation"
but the decrease In the army's power
of resistance by cutting down its sup
plies. Haig noted the decreasing power
of resistance last fall. The allies hope
by hammering the army in front and
diminishing its supplies in the rear to de-
crease that power so greatly that the ad-
vance this spring will move at a faster
rate than the advance last summer.
Germany's thorough understanding of
this situation and this intention is back
of her declaration of ruthless submarine
war She hopes to derange the enemy s
plans by starving England, and believes
that II can be done before the spring
advance on the Somme has had time to
progress very far. II the English
blockade decreases Germanys resisting
power. the German submarine war will
decrease, or rather destroy. the attack
ing power of England and France; SO
Nht Its man iCdSOiilh5 Sues MS 10
why the Germans speak of the sub
marine war as their last card" and
the phrase bears unwilling testimony
to the German belief in the sincerity
of Haig's conviction and the probability y
of its correctness.
The Negotiations with Austria.
CNew York SUM-
Whether or not Austria Hungary is In
I1ta
garding the submarine warfare is the
important consideration in the present
negotiations between Ambassador PEN
field and the Austrian foreign office.
At the beginning OF the present sub
marine campaign Berlin sent most
hattering reports of its success. But
the favorable impression which it was
hoped to create throughout the mon-
archy was counteracted by the reCep-
tion OF the news, especially in Hun
gary. Some of the most influential
Journals of Budapest condemned SUB
marine warfare. one attacking Admiral
Won Tirpitz and demanding a cessation
of murder at sea-" another calling for
the restraint OF Count Won Reventlow
as the chief exponent of the policy.
The Pesti-Hirlap quotes a member OF
the chamber OF deputies. as saying: "All
American countries are joining our
enemies. This is sheer Madness and
another, I'VE have made the whole
world turn against u.s." Count Karolyl
leader of the Independent party. said
IT regret deeply the phase of war into
which we enter with the declaration OF
submarine warfare" The reports from
Austria indicate that the only strong
defender Of the policy was the German
party. as thoroughly militaristic as the
Prussian Junkers-
stand by the President:
CBostnn Evening rransript)
yVbua Washington was watching the
White House for some sign OF the Presl-
dents next visit to Congress. the Secre'
tarv Of State and the Attorney General
were presenting to the senate Committee
on the Judiciary his long -heralded redues,
for authority to use the armed forces oi
the nation to discharge our obligations
and defend our rights as neutrals, and tc
deal speedily and effectively with all dis
turhers of the peace in our harbors and
all interference with our commerce ano
travel on the seas.
For the last fortnight the country has
been called upon daily to stand by the
President in the action taken when ne
broke relations with Germany and in his
promise OF further action whenever the
course OF Germany warranted further
action. NOW IS the IlIf1r Tor lnt COhl1i !
to call upon Congress to stand by the
President and clothe him with all the au'
thority he needs or thinks he needs to end
the illegal blockade against our ports, the
inhuuan treatment OF our citizens, and
the war against all neutral nations which
Germany is waglng with It's submarines
There is no time nor Is there any neces-
sity for debating the question whether
the President really needs additional au'
thority. Some will say that Washington
and Lincoln and Cleveland and Roosevelt
would not have awaited any additional
mandate, but would have acted without
delay in this emergency. No matter The
fact that Mr. Wilson has asked for more
authority should be sufficient for Con-
gress to give 1t to him freely and forth
with Why not make the grant on Wash
ington's Birthday
New York Evening Post.
Carson's comparative tabulation of ship
ping losses by months is the clearest
measure we have yet had OF the effective
ness of the new submarine warfare. The
difference between the new and the old
frightfulness Is about 30 per cent Last
December the U-boats' daily average was
800 tons During the present month the
average has been 1900 tons. Against such
drain indefinitely England could not
cope even II she brought her shipbuiding
facilities up to her peace-time record
which is about 2ooo, 900 tons a year. But
in that question OF time is the essence OF
the problem. Official Germany already
sees the arch-enemy tottering to a fall
but II the process of collapse should be
prolonged through the months public
opinion in Germany will have to be pre-
pared for another disenchantment. In
the mobilization OF public opinion the
German government has shown charac-
teristic efficiency. On previous occasions
optimism has rallied at the word of COM
mand, and at the word of command il
has been replaced by a grim determine
tInn ,.tn sea thin thrnnrh