New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-06
British Gloomy, but Doggedly
Determine to SeeWar Through
English Newspapers Find Scant Hope OF Break
ing German Line in France by Sudden Drive,
but Are Confident Time VIII Wear Foe Down

after long trial, been found made
quate.
"Victory in the war will have to be
won by new ideas. Surprising that by
this time last year we had become dis
satisfied with the prospects Of victory
by weight and metal alone and had de-
cided TO take out another insurance
say, by means of a tremendous superb
ority in the airs il not clear that by
this time we should be in better po-
sition now than we are, even though
we had to sacrifice few hundred thou.
sand men and reduce the production Of
heavy guns and shells to obtain that
superiority? -.
much development. Suppose we came
fresh to the problem and asked our
selves what were the ideal means Of
clearing Belgium and France? Should
we not say at once and without hest
tation, first by surprise, and second. by
so threatening the enemy's communi-
cation that he would be compelled
either to withdraw voluntarily or fight
at a great disadvantage? That, in eff
feet, is the enemy's reply to very
similar problem that confronts him.
He is attacking our communications
alike by the submarine and by air raids
on this country. Merely to defend our
selves against his submarines is pas
sive defence. The true and active de-
fence is to raid his communications.
Impossible by Sea
"By sea this is impossible, for he has
no communications there to speak Of.
All his communications are by land,
and it follows, as a military parallel,
that the enemy's policy would be by
air raids on his communications. To
be effectual there are two conditions
to be observed. The first is the con-
struction Of airplanes on a scale hlth-
erto undreamt of, which could only be
obtained, in all probability, by a re-
duction in the size of the army, though
Americas help will be of enormous
value. The second is that the air SER
vice would have to cease to be
handmade either to the army or the
navy and become a separate arm OF
defence with q ministry of its own.
Here is the coming struggle in the
direction of our war policy.
"The anniversary of the outbreak OF
the great confagration has indeed CO.
incided with the achievement OF brill
iantly successful offensive on the
Western front, but the value of the
Flanders victory lies rather in its re-
lation to future operations than In the
gains Of territory it actually secured,
and il would be too much to say that
in its present stage it has funda-
mentally affected the balance Of power
in the West.
END Is Not Yet"
"The end is certain; but the end is
not vet. II is certain, because in spite
of the present setback on the Russian
front the tide, whether military, diplo-
matte or popular, is flowing ever more
strongly against the Central Powers:
There may be momentary ebb and
flow, but week by week the rising
waters are eating more surely the toun-
dation of their houses. In the west
their military power is being stead iy
worn down. Across the Atlantic
America is marshalling her legions for
the battle. From Russia spirit OF
freed democracy goes forth that is
finding an unmistakable if tagging an
swer in Berlin and Dresden, Vienna and
! Budapest" ,,r,
Regarding the submarine, 1.-THE
Daily News" says:
"The destruction of our tonnage goes
on week by week with small diminu-
ton. The figures of the last SIX
months are full of ominous warning
and it is idle to pretend that we are
out of danger. II the war Commune