New-York tribune., 1918-03-31

tonnage was, as I have before reminded
you. most disquieting-only about TO-
600 gross. (In deadweight reckoning,
as used by Mr.. Hurley, this would be
10000 tons.) see that in one Cali
fornia yard you launched three steel
ships IN twenty minutes, and / hear,
from one who has sampled most of your
yards, that many other vessels-very
many-are on the way. With you, as
with US, officials more stoutly resist the
idea of giving out the only information
which really affects the position. You
may be more successful than we are in
getting at the real truth
Ships Govern
The Situation
To the plain man it looks as if this
question OF ships governs the question
whether it would help the cause if you
were to enroll 100000 men. If en-
listed now, these men would be trained
by January. The programme, as at
present announced, is, l take it, 1,500,-
coo to 100000 American soldiers
across the water by January Which,
of course, means another million held
here in training and reserve. Even that
smaller number would be a formidable
force of fresh, enthusiastic troops, and,
of course, Germany will have been by
that time graveiy weakened. These
little drives OF hers are expensive lux
uries, and while it is, fear, ridiculous
to talk about her losing five to one and
all that kind Of thing, she does hurl
into eternity many hundreds of thou
sands of men, who have somehow to be
replaced.
France and Britain also are losing
heavily. We ought not to be drawing
another $4,000 men from our mines,
and yet We are doing it. Apparently,
there is wave of recruiting in Eng
, land-after thee and one-half years
/ CT war-and the battle has also
brought you recruits.
a Every Man Sent
, Encourages Allies
E, The net result is that every man you
f can send to Europe mex. January will
, be invaluable. If we know that those
men are coming it will help US to hang
4 on, grimly; it will help the Italians
: and the French, and it will dishearten
: the Germans
: / am sure that you will not mind my
: adding that the question what kind of
S peace you are going to accept will or
: may depend vely much on what army
e you have actually in the field. Con-
n sldering the tremendous losses in the
S present battlea, our armies cannot
= very well increase in numbers We
shall do we'll if we keep them up to
: strength. The reace that we want is
: the same peace that you want, and
r every man, therefore, that you send is
Il dcubly welcome to US. Your young men
e are eager and jealous to go.
d The Enemy Must
Be Defeated
# When Mr.. Secretary Baker comes
u back | am sure that he will tell you
~" ""hHiy Souf men are received,
IL what a favorable impression they
n create. To be frank, | do not mind
n very much who equips them, provided
that the equipment is worthy of their
:. valor. If BritiSh and French factories
s undertake par, Of this task it helps
to restore the financial exchange, ard
n American orders placed in Europe are
n. rot burdens; if suitably adjusted they
! assist US. They balance the orders or
g contracts that we place with you. The
IS cne thing to be considered is how, with
If so much tonnage available, we can
% bring most of your accommodating force
II to bear on the enemy, who must be de-
foated