The Washington herald., 1918-08-21
A Victory Army"

Inc new issue before congress ana the people
was stated succinctiy by Secretary of War Baker
when he said there two ways of prosecuting
this war. One is to make every possible effort to
do it and the other is to proceed more lesurey
and do it later. The obvious advantage from every
standpoint social, military industrial and economic
is to put forth every effort in this country and win
the war as soon possible"
The can be won in 1919. Gen. March,
Chief of Staff of our army, is authority for the
statement There is evidence from every quarter
that he is right
What does the army in. France sayl
The testimony on this point is most interesting
The correspondent of the New York Times with
the American Expeditionary Force has something
to say upon this topic.
at seems to be the consensus of the best-in-
formed army circles that the will be
next year. While speculation differs as to the ex-
act time, have often heard the month of Septem-
Der mentioned the time when the Germans
will probably have had enough
mo one seriously expects a decision this year.
1t is perfectly true, as Gen. March says, that an
American army of 100000 can penetrate the Ger
line when and where it pleases, but to make
such penetration a large sector in ending the
must have many times the troops that it
would take to make the initial hole to widen it
and deepen il, and to make it secure enough to
bring decision.
Now the German effective strength is being
worn down by repeated allied attacks all along the
front. OF course, during the winter months, when
fighting Off both sides will replenish their
combat forces as best possible. The German high
command will have perhaps 100000 recruits for
that purpose, while the allied high command will
have 100000 Americans in addition to
recruits. Who doubt the relative ability of
the two sides when they face each other next
spring?
81 repeat that it is the belief of the American
army that six months after next springs effort
the Germans may be defeated. While the German
is still formidable foe, those in our army who
have the information say he has shot his bolt l
find that the idea that the will continue another
year has spread among the French people and the
condition has been completely accepted. This does
not mean at all that they will hold fast if it
takes longer"
All this furnishes the best possible background
for the man-power bill before Congress This
is possibly the most important war measure that
has yet been presented to Capitol Hill Certainly
there has been greater revolution in American
life contemplated than to make the entire
male population of the nation between the ages of
I8 and IS subject to the draft Yet it is necessary
to win the war, and such there is public
opposition to it. In certain sections of the country
there is protest against calling I8-year-old boys to
the colors, but it is clear from what Secretary
Baker has said that it is the plan of the War
Department to call these youngsters last.
We need the army We can raise it without dis
rupting our civilian fabric. We do it without
undue hardship upon men of families, or upon any
men who needed at home than in the
field. Even under the new bill the real reservoir
of man power in the United States is not
than touched upon. If to take
France and Great Britain have done would
have army of 100000 and more within six
months time.