New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
The "No Victory
In Sight" Editorial

The Continental Times of Septem'
Der devoted its entire front page
1 with the exception of its two outside
columns, TO a huge reproduction Of
McKays cartoon on the editorial page
of "The New York American" showing
Uncle Sam reading a bulletin, "No Vic
tory in Sight" The heading Of the &C
companying article was Startling Re
port Made to Washington by American
Military Commission Just Returne &c
/ from Stay at the French Front" The
sub-caption read, $50 Far, America Ha:
Been Misinformed or Conditions Elk
isting-German Lines 1mpregnable Tn.
less America Brings Tremendous AS
sistance-Only If United States Make
Some Titanic Effort Can the Results
of the War Be Favorable to the Allies.
The article begins:
"The New York American pub
fishes the following highly startling
article upon its editorial page. Il
stands forth as the most astounding
revelation Of the intense ignorance
which has existed in the United
States concerning conditions at the
seat Of war in Europe, and at the
same time, as a lasting tribute TO
the honesty Of the American officers
responsible for drawing up the re-
port. II clearly demonstrates that
the members of the Pershing military
commissioned expert, conscientious
body Of men-found no other choice
after what they saw on the French
front than that of bluntly informing
/ the government and people of the
/ United States that the war on which
President Wilson has embarked his
country IS q most rash proceeding,
and tina. to win. America really needs
70 put forth an unparalleled and IT,
tanic military effort Reading be-
/ tween the lines, 1t is quite evident
that the report was intended by the
authors 10 be solemn warning
against further participation in the
war. of which they, as experts. fully
realize the PERIL to the United States.
/ All military men Of experience, and
especially American officers, are fully
aware of the impossibility Of the
United States army making the stu
pendous military effort called for in
order 70 rescue the Allies from the
homeless strategical and material
position 20 which they have brought
/ themselves by their reckless pro-
/ longatior OF the war in the hope that
they Ultimately would be saved by a
miracle Of one kind or another
Thus the American aid from which
the Allies expect wonders is doomed
/ TO failure"
Then followed in full the Hears
editorial, covering nearly two pages, IL
which IL was maintained that thu
American officers who visited the from
were astounded at the strength OF tn
German position; that they frank!
told their government that the Ger
man line on the Western front was 81
nearly impregnable that the Allie
commanders freely admitted their in
ability 20 break IT.; that Germany wa
in the ascerdancy, and that she hat
command Of the air.
This editorial proved an almost un
parallcled source OF propaganda TO
pro-German papers IN Europe. |
reached the Spanish 4 II { in timt
for use in the issue Of August IS. TIL
Vienna X. and w. Korrespondeni
Bureau sent IL on by wireless TO Aus
tria, where il was quoted by tn
Vienna Fremdenbldtt.
Naturally, it was all over German.
the next day. For instance, it was il
the first edition Of the Hdmburge
FremdenbLdu on August 90. Extract
from IL were also used in various othe
German papers, such as the KOlnisch
4 VoIkszettung OF September II, tn
FTdnkfurter ZeifHng, the KreigI
/eifung and the Hamburger Fremden
INIT Of September q. The BcrIin0
T JaqebldH Of October q referred to Il
Echoes Of IL still continue 10 be hear,
in neutral countries.