New-York tribune., 1917-05-03

/ 10 grasp the true significance Of the
war" is already suffering from rhe ef-
/ fects Of a stupid censorship, in the
opinion Of Pomcroy Burton, manager OF
"Thc London Daily Mail
I Mr.. Burton spoke yesterday noon 70
ABOUT two thousand members Of the
Merchants Association and heir guests
gathered for luncheon in the grand
lallroom Of the Hotel Astor. lie re-
icrrcd TO the "polcy Of suppression
which has prevailed in tho principal
Entente countries since the day the
first shot was fred" and he expressed
the hope that the United States govern
mcnt would not repeat their mistake.
"Thc two great needs which CON
/ front this country today be said,
are:
First. coordination Of effort at
Washington, through a war council
fully empowered TO deal with all war
problems. in consultation, Of course,
with Cabinet members, legislators, eX-
perts and others; and
"Sccond. an extensive and system
attic campaign Of information, CON
Quoted through the advertising and
news columns Of every newspaper pub
ishcd IN the United States. designed
20 make the people understand this
war They are far from understand
ing it now.
Short War Tallacy
Five weeks Of careful inquiry CON
4ho crrcat majority OF
people i'm this country believe the war
TO be nearing an end.
! r They took upon tho entry Of the
! United States as a part Of the stage
setting for the last act of the great
at is the short war fallacy in a
( new guise.
But for this same short war fall
+ lacy the war might now be nearing
the end indeed. il might be over.
THE people of every nation now
engaged began with the firm convIc-
ton that they were in for a short war.
"That fatal theory has entered
/ largely into tho war preparations OF
every country involved It has shaped
war policies. j. has warped and ms
guided public sentiment. Il has cost
/ countless thousands Of human ives
/ II has prolonged the war. II has been
Gcrmanys strongest ally.
"Thc best informed military experts
to-day believe that the war Is not
nearly over. They believe lts worst
and most dangerous stages are stIll 10
come.
zone of the foremost men in Great
Britain has stated publicly within the
last week that the wars end IS lnVls-
/ ible.
Barring possible collapse through
hunger, Germany can go on for years,
Barring possible failure 70 meet and
overcome the submarine campaign, the
Allies can 60 on for years.
Only Safe Basis for United States
"The only safe basis for this country
20 proceed upon is TO assume tnat the
/ United States alone Is entering upon
war with Germany-a war which VIII
tax its full resources and its entire
I fighting strength.
NO democracy was ever effective in
war without the full understanding and
backing Of the masses of the working
people
Legislation alone will not make this
or any other country an effective war
| factor.
This country is a long way from the
| battlefelds of Europe. and there is no
doubt that great masses OF ITS people
feel themselves apart from the conflict,
! lot part Of il.
They feel that IL is Europes war,
and they do not understand why this
country should mix up in 1t. They
utterly fail 10 realize that the things
involved are their own personal free
dom. their own material interests, their
own and their children's futures--all
Of which are as much at stake here to-
day as they are to the people Of Eng
land and Of France.
at must be admitted that the main
reason for the utter inability of the
people of this country to grasp the
true significance of the war today is
the policy Of suppression which has
prevailed in the principal Entente coun-
tries since the day the first shot was
fired.
Censorship Has Cost Dearly
This close censorship policy has cost
them dearly.
at has kept the spirit and meaning
Of the war from entering the minds Of
the people in this and other countries
remote from the co1Kict.
at has been a brake pressed hard
on the wheels, while the hauling was
all uphill.
81 trust that the Washington au-
thorities will begin right and take the
people into their full confidence. That
in itself will be a mighty step forward.
Couple an open censorship policy
with an energetic publicity campaign
designed to bring home to the people
the full significance Of the present war
situation, and this country Will soon be
shaping its war plans on the grand
scale.
Nothing could more strikingly illus
trate the essential nature Of the peo-
pies cooperation than the development
Of England's great Ministry Of NUM-
tions. There are now nearly 100 gov
ernment plants. which have been spe-
cially built TO cope with war require
ments. Working directly under the
Ministry Of Munitions are 100000 men
and over 100000 women. Women are
engaged in more than 500 munition
processes. The production Of guns and
munitions has multiplied sixfold during
the last year.
"The British have moved back and
forth across the Channel over 100000
men, over l0.000.O00 tons of explosives,
over 50.000.000 gallons Of gasolene and
over 1,0Oe 900 sick and wounded, and
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