davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
BR|T)N SAYSF|bER
WILL GIVE VICTORY
Sir William Robertson, Army
Chief, Sees Test Of Nations,
Not Of Fighting Men.
IDEALIsT AMERICA STRONG

Especial CableErnA to The Star and
New York Tines.)
copyright. 1917. by the New York Times Co..
LONDON. August 4.-"From tho SOL
dier's point of view I asked Gen. Sir
William Robertson of the imperial gen.
eral stan, how goes the war;
II he had said that 1t goes well !
should have thought 1 had stumbled oy
accident on Marshal Won Hindenburg.
faith in the future I should have
thought a politician had stolen the
khaki of Engiand's man of iron.
He replied: That's SO big ques-
tion l should like II in DETAIL" This
said with no portentousness. but with
as whimsical. smile as You could
wish. waiting for me to speak
The man is Enthusiastically Eng
fish. You would never think of set
ting up his wooden effigy in Trafalgar
Square for the tin. tacks Of emotional
patriots.
The dark eyes under their thick
brows. which are as black as night.
have the flashing good humor of the
schoolboy. There il no scowl on his
face. nothing but intelligence and good
apart and firmly planted. He is middle
sized. thick set. stubborn and tenacious.
husky of voice, hard as nails. with
bright eye. a chin of Iron and a fore
head that has the look OF rock.
He has those minor fourishes Of
manner which are second nature to
every cavalryman. but his instincts are
so sound. his soldiership 10 80 entirely
intellectual and his wit 80 quick and
human and good tempered that he es-
capes the swagger az completely as
he escapes the department of gravity.
He gives you the feeling Of man who
could never be knocked on his feet by
sudden blow.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
Gets Things Quietly Done.

Here is the English Moltke. the or
ganizer of victory. the director of five
or six enormous campaigns. scattered
all over the world. the man who has
taken Kitchener's place. the man who
fed the British army on the historic
retreat from Mons. the man in whom
Britain places her supreme military
confidence. the man who never strikes
an attitude. never INDUCES in rhetoric.
never gets into a fuss and never asks
light. but who gets things quietly and
thoroughly done.
Kitchener was too prodigious q hero
to be Enthusiastically English He
was q legend in his lifetime. q thing
almost unknown in English history,
for the English like their heroes to be
a hundred years dead.
More nearly does this stubborn and
good-natured man, nrm as a rock.
true as steel and entirely unaffected.
passing himself of as an average man.
admirably personate the nation. He
10 its energy. its doggedness. its good
humor. its quiet confidence and its
common sense. You say of him at first
glance: Here Is q robust. good-tem-
pered and agreeable Englishman." and
then would leave IT. But presently
you look harder at him and say here
is a man of action. with IRE ready to
spring out of him. cautious In refiec-
ton. audacious in act and like bull
dog until he gets his way.
His personality makes itself felt in
this way gradually. He has no theat-
ricni effects He Ia the country itself.
which seems only a pretty garden. full
Of charming people, until you stir 1t
up with q walking stick and discover
az is q beehive No Engiishman. likes
to be thought az hero He resents it
and counts any such tendency q sign
of bad breeding. s ~.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
CIVIL SERVICE JOBS OPEN.
Commission Announces Examina-
tons for September 4 and 3,

The civil service commission an
nounces that q number of examinations
will shortly be held for positions in
the government service. These include
the positions Of investigator in mar
year: heating and ventilating engineer
and craftsman. paying $500 a year;
electrical engineer. paying $1,000 to
$1,000 year: mechanical engineer,
civil engineer. grade l. paying from
t1.3eo to $3.50 a year: Junior archi-
tect, paying from $1,000 to $3.50 a
year. and radio engineer. paying 81 500
Z year.
The commissions oflios at WASHING
ton will furnish. blanks to any Der.
sons who desire to take examinations
for these positions. The examinations
will be held September 4 to S.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

imported 4s,0oe,eo tons Of goods.
which we obtained from the same coun-
tries and in the same proportion as We
imported before the, war. they would
have cost us rather less than 500, 000,-
coo pounds.
Therefore. in the year 1916 We paid
Bo.000,e00 pounds more than our TIM
ports would have cost US IL we had
continued to buy the Same class Of COM
modfties. and from the same sources as
before the war. In 1913 exports were
valued at 525, zoo. 900 pounds. In 1915 sx-
ports were valued at SOC. ooo. 900 pounds.
but II these exports had been At
prices Of the 1915 level their value would
have been only 3S6. o0s. 900 pounds"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

ganixation Of the second seeyeee e sAs
National Army provided for In the
selecttye CONSUMPTION bill
The items covering the building Of
sixteen additional cantonments, max
ing up the thirty.two such training
cities originally planned. are included
in the estimates OF moro than eea,ooo.-
900 for barracks and quarters, and mere
than S17.00o.o0o for such purposes ~
roads and sewers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
ACT FOR SECOND 10000.
Trainers Of Bill Provide Semi-Perma.
nent Camps 1t Guard Sites.

Provision for hiding semi perma-
nent cantonmsnts at National Gard
training camp sites. It was learned to-
day. Is included in the Army deficiency
bill recently submitted to Congress.
Whether ali present camp sites are to
be continued in this way is not known.
and presumably has not been decided.
The provision was inserted. rs were
similar provisions for equipment. pay
and other items, to cover possible or
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
OVERSEAS WIRELESS
SERVICE DISCONTINUED

Especial CableEram to The Star and
New York Times.)
LONDON, August 4. = The Marconi
Company announces that from mid
night tonight its transatlantic service,
both eastbound and westbound, will be
discontinued, this action being taken
upon instr--tions from the government.
Godfrey Isaacs, managing director,
says 1t is purely a necessary war
measure.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
WAR CUTS DEEPLY
into BRITISH TRADE
Losses and Requisitioning Of
Shipping a Hard Blow to
Manufacturers.
PRICES KEEP UP VALUES
Especial CabIegram to The Star and
New York Tfmes.D

Especial CabIegram to The Star and
New York Times.D
LONDON, August 4.-There is pub
lished this morning a statement from a
source which may be regarded as
wholly reliable showing the wars eff
fects on British shipping.
The ocean-going shipping at present
on the United Kingdoms register, in
elusive of prizes. is little more than
$4,000. 600 tons. of which 100000 tons
are employed in home service. or the
1000 600 tons thus employed. however.
only about one-half is available for
the trade Of the country. About s.
500. 900 tons have been allotted entire
ly. to the needs Of the navy. the army.
the allies, and the dominions overseas.
further million tons or thereabouts
being used for these purposes on the
ut-journey and therefore lost to Brit
aims export trade. but available for i'm
ports
Tonnage Before the War.
Before the war the ocean-going yes
sells of the United Kingdoms register
0OO. 900 tons gross. OF this more than
) 200. 900 tons were regularly employed
in trade with the United Kingdom. the
remainder being gagged in trades be-
tween foreign countries and various
parts Of the British dominions.
A large amount Of this distant trading
has. been ,eacyifced to. Britain's immediate
needs and, nearly so per cent Of the ships
concerned brought home for the British
trade. From the beginning Of the war
British chips have steadily been requisi-
toned by the government and run in
national instead Of in private interest.
The rates paid to shipowners soon be-
came very much lower than the freights
which could be earned by free ships. and
British shipowErs therefore. have been
unable to rely on earning the same
freights as their competitors.
Results Of National Control.
Now the situation has reached the stage
at which 1t has been necessary to take
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
Message to America.

What is your message to American
was asked. Let me send a word from
you to the states at the end of three
years OF hghting."
You hatter me-" said Sir William.
Give them a word of counsel after
three years of experience" pressed.
IF may presume to do that" he an
swered, Il would simply say this: Gen
tlemen of the United States. put your
backs into it But l cannot think of
America not putting her back into any
thing she takes up. We who are fight
ing now are in grim business up to
our necks. We have stuck together
through bad days. We are more closely
united than we were at the beginning
We are undannted and confident
With America coming in. All of US
feel that our tasks will not take 30
long. Peace will return to the earth;
tAe peace Of free peoples. II America
haS>Ans that peace by q day she will
earn the gratitude of history. The
world must be made safe for de-
mocracy."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
America Brings Hope Of Earlier End.


Sir William had scarcely said this.
when. for a moment, he let me see
something OF his heart. behind the SOL
dier's front Of brass. America brings
this hope to the world" he said. very
earnestly. the hope Of an earlier end
to all the frightful agony and loss Of
lies should go on fighting to the end.
We are forced to do SO. Our life de-
ponds upon 1t. Europe would not be
ut to live in If we submitted 1t to the
war lords of Prussia. That would be
the death of international good will.
But America should hasten the end.
That Is the browning mercy Of her APP
pearance on the battlefield. She has be-
gun splendidly. She is solemnly ear
nest, and when she strikes her hardest
II will be with the supreme object of
saving the world for democracy and
Europe from further death. We may
be pretty confident that her blows will
strike despair into the hearts of the
Prussian war lords. troubled now lest
their own people should md them out"
You are confident OF the end?
asked.
who could doubt it and liver" was
the answer. But still say that the
Righteousness Of our cause cannot de-
eide this titanic conflict 1t is the
fiber. the stuff. the grit. the nerve of
the civilian people who will decide it.
BE damn sure Of this: The side which
lasts the longest, the side which en-
dures, is the side which will give its
character to the future of civilization.
The quality of national fiber will decide
this war and decide the future of the
world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

complete control Of an British shipping
In order to insure the employment OF
every vessel in the manner and On the
terms e 70 rae % ifslsns moss rssnit
may be summarized as follOws:
With the exception Of few vessels en-
gagged in distant waters on work which IL,
vital to the British colonies and Of ves-'
soils chartered to France and Italy the
British government has re0uistttoned Tor
hire at the governments rates about ~
per cent Of the ocean-going tr1mps on
the United Kingdom register.
All British liners have been requist-
toned and are being run for govern
ment account. The owners receive hire
at government rates and the profits
derived from private freight carried
at market rates go to the government
and not to the shipowner. Every
ocean-going voyage Of British steam
ers is now directed by the government.
which has regard only to the question
Of how it can obtain essential imports
from the nearest source and dfsre-
CARDS the interests of both the ship
owner and exporter. Many buiit-up
trades in distant waters and sustained
by British industry had to be aban-
doned to neutral owners. who gladly
seek employment for their vessels in
areas immune from war risks.
Apart from the effect upon the ship
ping interests. the country generally
has also had to suffer great and in
creasing sacrifices, owing to the short
age of tonnage caused by war require
ments and submarine losses.
Big Cut in Imports.
Before the war" says British
statesman. I'VE were importing at a
rate of about $4,000, 600 tons a year.
In 1916 our imports fell to about 49,
000,0 900 tons and In the present year
they will be considerably less. Even
this large reduction does not exhibit
the full amount of the sacrifices which
we have made both of articles for our
own consumption and of commodities
for manufacture and export to our
world customers.
ed before the war, foodstuffs were
rather less than a quarter. The rest
was practically all employed or con-
sumed in promoting the industries and
commerce of peace. In 1915, however.
two-thirds of all our supplies from
overseas consisted of foodstuffs. NUM-
tions of war and material for manu-
facture of munitions. leaving only one
third of greatly reduced total for
productive industries.
I'm 1913 our total imports were val
ued at 7s6.00e.00O sterling. of which
about 100000 came from countries
with which we are now at war. In
1915 our imports were valued at s4s.-
000, 900 sterling. enemy countries being,
of course. eliminated from this figure.
Due to Higher Prices.
The great rise in prices accounts
an increase in the money total with a
decline in the amount imported: but on
the best estimate that can be made it
would appear that il in 1915 we had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

The Venezuelan government By law
has prescribed q standard Of purity
for butter. and has forbidden the sale
of any that is adulterated.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
Results Of Modern War.

particularized my question. quoting
Col Gadke and Maj Moraht: us the
defensive in modern warfare SO strong
that tt is hopeless to look for a mill
tary decision? Must not the armed
struggle end in a draw? Why go on
any longer II in the end the conten-
ton must be settled by diplomacy
Sir william replied: You ask for a
soldiers answer to those questions"
interrupted him to say that the
world would welcome the frank and
honest statement Of q soldier. because
it felt that poiiticians' opportunities to
be truthful were somewhat circum-
scribed.
I'VE all know" I said. what various
statesmen Of various nations have been
saying for three years. What we should
like to know 10 what an honest SOL
der thinks at the end of three years Of
slaughter. What is the military truth
of the natter?
ITO begin with. said Sir William, mo
soldier can answer that question. for
this reason: War 10. q struggle Of ma
lions. A soldier can speak with GER
armies. but he cannot speak with any
defniteness at all about nations.
Take the case of Russia. Tho psy-
GEOLOGY of the nation. not the dis
cipline OF its army, Is concerned, and
so with all of US. In 1870 you could
speak of the French army and the Ger
man army. Now you must speak Of the
French nation and the German nation.
You have got to deal with the psy-
chology Of peoples. Armies in the field
ere only part of this tremendous con-
each separate nation which they repre-
sent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
Greater Than His Words.

Sir William impresses an observer
as greater than his words. He gives
one a feeling of a strength that Ia un-
breakable and OF a confidence that no
disaster could cloud. He is n man who
could never be ratified. He fed the
British armies on the retreat from Mons
in & way that astonished the world. In
the midst of that tUmult and confusion
he was there with imperturbable faith
in the valor of British soldiers seeing
that no man hungered or went athirst:
mothering the whole army. keeping
heart In II. He is still imperturbable
with the direction Of great campaigns
in his hands. He has the American
conviction that the man on top should
never be busy. He is always ready to
decide a question. He never loses his
head or gets hurried- He appears to
be without a care in the world. He is
one of those men who do their hard
thinking over q pipe, with their feet
on q fender and with not line in their
foreheads. I asked him how he man
aged to stand the enormous strain of
his ONCE. He replied: 1T is a soldiers
duty to keen fit"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
German Nation Disciplined.

"Do not let us underrate the Germans.
because their cause Is bad. because
they are guilty of provoking the war
and because their material resources
are less than ours. The whole German
nation is as disciplined as an army. 1t
in their blood discipline finely drawn
to thinness. Docility is q bad thing in
peace-making for slavishness. but 1t
provides a people with certain ad-
vantages in war.
Germany IL strong because she is
updemocratfc and she ts undemocratic
because she has been drilled in iron
discipline. All these millions Of people
have been forced to take the sword
this discipline Is and formidable as II
is. there is a discipline more formidable
still. ! mean the se1f-fmposed. self
accepted discipline Of a free people.
What could be more magnificent
than the spectacle which America now
presents to mankind? She has liberty
in her blood. She loathes despotism.
the yoke Of autocracy than she could
turn her broad rivers into puddles and
her great lakes into ponds. But look
at her now submitting herself to the
discipline Of war freely Of her own will
for the sake OF a moral issue.
TT Is not for me to prophecy. 1t Is
not for me even to pronounce an opin-
ion on Americas preparations. but
should say that throughout the world
mocracy is more confident for the mere
spectacle Of that vast nation imposing
upon itself the restraints and rigors Of
discipline. 1t means now as much to
the spirit Of this struggle rs later its
effects will mean in the Anal grip"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
depend on VIII Of People"

at is quite natural for the Germans
Sir William replied, ito affect that con-
tempt. Those in high command know
that their defensive depends upon the will
of the German people. They are perhaps
az much concerned about the breaking
Of the national will behind as about the
scattering OF their defenses In front
They realize that this conflict IL a struggle
Of national tenacities. They hope to hold
Us OF until the will Of our people breaks.
until the French people or the Italian
people or the British people grow tired.
That Is their only hope. Their most
urgent anxiety Ii that the will of their
own people should not break first"
What Is your own hope" l asked,
from the interference of American"
ITO begin with" was the answer.
America in a nation of a hundred mil
lions Of people. That Ii something. Then
1t is nation Of very remarkable energy.
Americans are very quick in uptake.
They are inventive. they are resourceful,
they are immensely courageous: but more
than that. America is a nation of moral
yes. but with the IRE of moral idealism
in its blood. and 1t has literally been
driven into this war II has not come
into the war wantonly. 1t Is not inspired
by base motives. II IL a nation in which
Caesarism has never struck its roots.
mo nation in the world Is less militar-
istic. When such nation ranges itself
on the side of the democratic powers
which are hammering autOcratic mill
tarism and which are absolutely de-
termined to go on hammering until the
world really Is safe for democracy, the
end Is certain
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

of nations can hs hroksa BY hopeless
ness and despair. II the army does not
crack, the nation behind Il may crack.
Some one has got to give way In this
on one side or the other. There
must be submission, and when We stop
to consider the numbers ana resources
Of each aide, you may fairly conclude
that II the nations Of the allies are
steadfast. n the civilian heart is sound.
must come sooner or later
from the central powers The material
odds are on our side At last, but quail
ity is going to win this war. Character
will decide II"
Tho Germans affect to despise the
value of American interference" said.
but in your reckoning Of numbers and
resources America must play prodigious.
II not q decisive part"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
Due to Higher Prices.

THE great rise in prices accounts
for a large part of the phenomenon of
an increase in the money total with a
decline in the amount imported; but on
the best estimate that can be made it
would appear that il in 1915 we had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
Test Of Racial Quality.

suppose we must conclude that no
army Of millions can be broken and
crushed, Is the same thing to be sup
posed of the nation behind the army :?
Surely we see in this tremendous con-
test much more than q struggle Of
armed forces. 1t 10 sitting Of ma
tions, trial OF character q test of
racial quality. The workmen and work.
the conflict. and the forces in the field
are only the hands OF n vast body in
which every muscle is being strained
and tried.
Suppose you cannot roll up the tanks
OF your enemy's army? Cannot you
break his heart? Suppose you can only
drive him yard by yard. hammering
him back to his frontier month by
month Suppose that IL all you can do.
Cannot You destroy his civilian conf
dence and break his political will? II
that Is the effect of your strategy, the
decision Is military decision. You
have broken his will. you have i'm
posed your will upon him; you have
conquered his resistance.
But 1t Is too early yet to say you
cannot destroy his defensive in the field
while his civilian will is still stub
born: We on our side. At any rate, do not
why should our people forget the
difference between 1914 and 1917? They
forget that Germany was ready three
years ago. We had our backs to the
Germans; we were within q few miles
Of Paris. The French government had
removed to Bordeaux. We were re-
treating-the French and English to-
gether-with the loss of a few guns
and with many casualties.
Hammered as Never Before
what is the position today? We are
Tar north and facing north. We no
longer have our backs to the Germans.
and we are millions where before we
were thousands. We have driven them
before us. We have taken positions
that they regarded as matters OF life
and death. and our guns are hammer
ing them now as they have never been
hammered before.
ut is too early to say that the de-
fensive I'm modern warfare 10 impreg-
nable. Military writers In Germany may
say SO. but our men in France are not
laying down law on that subject I
would say IT Is too early yet for such
dogmatism. 81.
Let US wait few weeks. Tia runs
are speaking now. Lat them 20 on
speaktng. and Let us rsmsmber While
we walt that whether or not vast
arPies can be conquered In the deld as
thy were conquered years ago. the win
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

Now the situation has reached the stage
I which it has been necessary to take