New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-23
Defence Societies
Urge u. S. to Tell
Ugly War Truths
Assert German Fleet May
Escape if Allies Don't
Get Coal

WASHINGTON, Aug. PA state
ment of world conditions unanimously
adopted by the meeting of the National
Committee of Patriotic and Defence So
cieties, made public by Raymond B.
Price, says. in part:
"If the chosen leaders of democracy
are afraid to tell us the full dangers
confronting the nation, cen democracy
be the strong, virile force we are rely
inc upon for the salvation of humanity -?
Can it compete with autocracy? Is it
worth fighting and sacrificing for?
There can be but one answer.
IF facts like the following had been
driven home TO our people during the
past months, is it not certain that we
should have had more men, more
money, more ships, more supplies, more
speed. because DELAYS would not have
been tolerated?
Italians Are Crippled
italian munition plants run part
time for want of coal Germany is not
worried over the Italian offensive, be-
cause she knows It is limited by lack
Of coal. Unless we can send Italy $780,
600 tons of coal per month she cannot
long continue her offensive military
operations. The ships are not in sight
to carry that coal to Italy.
"The Italian and French navies are
crippled for lack Of fuel. Germany,
knows this, and seeks to destroy coal
and oil ships above al others"
"If fuel becomes increasingly scarce,
as il has for some months past, the
british feet next fall will be so re-
stricted that the German feet may
escape. Then indeed would hell be let
loose on our own unprepared shores;
Germany had her greatest food
shortage over a year ago. with AZ
OOO. 900 people in her captured terri
torjes-almost the population OF the
British Isles-to use as she can, to TIL
the fertile soil Of food-exploiting
Poland and Rumania, she is not TO be
starved this year nor next year, nor
any other year, as things look to-day.
Duty of United States
america must rebuild and re-equip
the railroads Of France and perhaps o.
Russia to win this war. Some experts
saw we must, to conquer Germany, send
500 600 workmen, mechanics and rail
road operatives, besides an army o.
from 100000 to 100000 men to
France A good start, even, cannot be
made within one year, and perhaps TWO
or three wears. Do you know that "a
maintain 100000 men, chiefly in Eng
land and lust across the 2l-mile wide
English Channel in France, Great
Rritain requisitioned one-fourth the
entire merchant tonnage Of the world
During the war nearly one-eightn
the merchant tonnage of the earth has
becn DESTROYED. This is nearly double
what has been launched in the same
period. ,.ol
nv mine or submarine from now on, we
still could not send 100000 men Il
France and maintain them one year
from to-day.
Nobody has yet added together the
total new demands alone for tonnage,
and vet new needs Of appalling magni-
iudc are appearing every week. Great
pritajn's army Of 100000 in the year
Igl5-lG consumed more than the entire
british naticn, 100000 strong, IN
I 1913. IL
"And vet there are not enough ships
N meet the needs of last year, when
we steadily went backward. How are
we 10 meet the new demands for cargo
space that cur entrance into the war
involves? An increasing number OF
sbjps will be available next year, but
The additions for the next eight months
are pitifully inadequate. England says
one snip this year is worth six next
year.
when Italy may succumb, when
Russia appears helpless, when even
/ the glorious British feet. the sole
savior Of the United States for the
{ past three years, may be rendered i'm
potent. Is II not clear that fghtinl
for democracy is for America but part
Of the Gaze? We arc fighting for oui
very lives"