The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-07-07
OUR TROOPS TO COUNT IN 1918 IS
 GERMAN BELIEF
Berlin Critics Admits Ar American Danger If
 War Lasts.

The Hague July 7.-Via London.) von salzman, writing in the Vossische Zeitung of Berlin. says:
 General Pershing, the Mexican hero, and his staff won their advance laurels in Paris. That is cheap fame. We want to see the American gentle guns. Then will they show us the manly courage they now parade in a battle of flowers?"
 The writer first proceeds to speak of the success of the American loan, pointing out that this, however, is not sufficient to win the war, and that the time for ak is past. He continues:
 ''It is useless to say .that Americans may or may not come, but better to look the facts in the face as if the war lasts till 1918 Americans will be there. We must consider them as an element and weigh them in our reck- onings. There is an American dan ger without question, but it is not yet time to produce the figures or count up, the divisions. Such reports are in most cases difficult to prove and will probably not be supported later by historians.
 .In spite of our enemies forts to iSSQS 1dlSS IcpOTlS, Il they assure us so many men, airmen, and General Staff are already on French soil we can contradict these assertions with cool, sober facts In the time elapsed the transportation of any large num- Der of troops would be impossible owl ing to lack of cargo space. Although General Pershing Is in Paris gaining cheap fame" N
 |. Salznan then continues to argue that appearance of American troops in any quantity Is in lso case to be ex- pected before the Spring of 1918. As for transport oversea of troops. Ger many herself had some experience in expeditions to China and Southwest Africa. Germany herself had no ex- perience of transporting troops over sea before 1900, and even then she had to learn a lesson.
 Before Count Waldersee could command finished troops in Chins many months had gone by,'' the writer continues.
 Salzman writes that German troops in East Asia and Southwest Africa were never ready, as they had to bt completely reorganized owing to tht climate and the formation of the land l. Naturally all England's experienc, will be at Americas disposal" h, continued. 'This will tighten tn, task, buf difficulties remain. One ha. l only to read about the Spanish
 American war; which in spite of inex
 haustible material, good will, and tn
 smallness of the undertaking, will al
 ways remain series of mistakes. Ger l tainly, they will have gained know1 edge in America, but the matter o
 transporting overseas is big ques l tfon even if they should succeed il procuring the necessary tonnage. .I The question of the worlds ship ping is serious question by itself. Ou l submarines are also gaining exprience
 so that danger for our enemies in icrases from month to month
 'In certain German circles there a tendency when considering Americ as a military power to compare he i with England. People often say t me, England was also unprepared a
 the beginning, but. in spite of it Ina put an army of millions int othe fiel l, period This is one of the big lies C
 the worlds history. England was com pletely ready in 1914"
 Salzman to prove his case proceed to relate how many men EngIan really had, and that there was onl Earti1lery lacking. He says Englan
 also had many experienced retire veterans at her disposal, also militar
 instructors. These America certainl
 has not at her disposal, he asserts.
 sAThe ability of America to produc
 ammunition we unfortunately alread , know from bitter experience,'' he add "It could hardly be improved upol
 What England couldn't do in thre . years America will be unable 1
 achieve within any definite period The, article proceeds to praise tt , French as militarists, pointing out ths ,I England has not Frances finesse, ell,
 gance, and military leadership, but brutal and calculating, and that Amer