The Washington times., 1917-12-02
SLEDGE-HAMMER WAR FACTS
GIVEN TO AMERICAN PUBLIC
BY VISCOUNT NORTHCLIFFE

Continued from Page I'D
But these men were known before
the war; and history has still to pro
nounce the final word as to their
achievements. General Petain's con-
duct OF the Verdun operations will al
ways be reckoned one of the finest
performances in military annals. But
his testing Is not over yet OF gen
erals who have proved themselves to
be worthy OF the highest praise In
the second rank there are many
Cough, Byng, Maude, currie. Rawlin-
son, Nivells, Gutor, Lechiteki, Kalen-
ina-I give q few names Just as they
come into my mind.
Have Faeed Bulk Of Foe.
Haig and the French have had op-
posed to them for many months past
the bulk Of the German forces. Even
in the summer OF 1915, after Hinden-
burg had drawn off from the Russian
front a number Of divisions to-be
passed through the Slaughter-house Of
Verdun. the northern sectors OF that
front were very lightly held on both
sides. Along the whole Of II Ger
mans, Austrians, and Turks together
did not number g million. The Aus
trians were a mixture of races and
uAIOu1AAllGIf Win nONuluk u1l QAa~A-
pline and tear to hold them together.
They surrendered IN droves when
ever opportunity presented itself.
There were probably five divisions
Of Germans. not q hundred thousand
men, on the entire Russian front All
the rest were either In Germany or
on the western front. Therefore, II IL
nothing new FOR the French and Brit
ish armies IN France and Flanders 70
know that almost the whole OF Ger.
msny's available strength 10 pitted
against them There Is certainly |
nothing terrifying in the knowledge
They are a. numerous az the enemy. ]
Man for man they are better troops |
They have an armament which nov
exceeds IN quantity and is more mod-f
Germans True, the Germans being
In the defensive have q great advan-
taGe. Defending Underground POSI-
tions such as the Germans, with the I
aid OF the enslaved, Belgians and
French. dig and build today is aCfar |
easier business than attacking them. |
A small number can keep on q large |
number. That IL why the assistance
of the United States armies IL neces-
sary. with that asEistAnco the task
can and viii be accomplished In
aEE14 ~ NAAI WI WIZ 1AAAa = A-AAe
war, We could look forward with Ger
tainty to the discontinue OF our op-
po1ent forcss within reasonable
tima
U-soats san q Menace.
But the war has, In my considered
Judgment, ceased to be even mainly q
land war. Since the Germans decided
to throw away their last chance OF
living down their crimes and savage
ries, their last chance OF taking their
place again In this generation as
members OF the family Of eiviliEed
rzees-sincO they resolved to use the
power which the submarine gave
them against all the shipping and
lives they could reach in all parts OF
the world the war has become mainly
a sea war.
Germany cannot win the war by
means OF the submarines Her IDLE
hope Of starving England and fright
enlng the United States out Of the
war has bean already renowned
She does not any longer believe that
Il Il possible TO drive all allied and
neutral shipping under or OF the
seas
But she can, by the activity Of the
U-boats, keep the war dragging on
She can hamper the allies In their
nAAANo-g OF~-c~-SA-@- ~ - N-N-N
discomfort, or even suffering, to the
Inhabitants OF the British Isles.
though they have planted too much
land afresh during the last six
months, and they viii plant 90 much
more in the coming twelve months.
that they viii 60 much farther than
they have ever gone before toward
growing enough food to keep them
alive.
Not enough. perhaps, to allow them
full ~1joyment Of life, but the Ger
mems have known q far worse state
Of things for . long Will, and they
do not show any sign OF giving in.
The British people are certainly not