The Washington herald., 1918-08-22

features of the war situation lies in
the fact that at this time Germany
Is reducing her bread ration and
Austria has just cut hers down still
lower, ETC."
While an Associated Press dispatch
in the Star OF the evening before,
August 10, reads: "It is reported lat
London) in dispatches from Berlin
that the bread ration in the German
capital will be increased by 100 grams
weekly. The price has also been
raised II pfennings."
We wonder what the exact situ-
alton Is. We wonder II any good
comes from misrepresenting it to our
people-we wonder IL We gain any
more than the Germans do by mis-
representing American strength and
American determination to their peo-
pie.
America must know the truth. We
hope she will have 1t at every turn.
One thing Is sure IL she becomes con-
vinced at any time that she is not
getting the entire truth, she will
have 1t, you may be sure. gentle
reader.
We can only win the war as we
know the exact situation and prepare
ourselves and our armies and our re-
sources to meet it.
While illustrative of the difficulty Of
obtaining the truth on the Russian
situation is shown in the following:
Soviet troops quit Moscow"
Peasants march on capital"
"Lenine and Trotzky fee"
While the generally reliable and
conservative Christian Science Mon
itor quotes authoritative statements
from Russian leaders on the nine
teenth Of August to this effect:
Statements are being issued from
the Kremlin, one of which declares
that European press representatives
OF the power of the Soviets as on
the point of falling has excited con-
tempt and hilarity among the Russian
masses. Another states that a big
review Of some $1,000 workmen, per-
fectly trained. was held in Moscow
on Sunday last august 1) and the
men left a good impression. etc"
No wonder the careful man stops
and pauses and reflects when he
glances Russiaward.
II the masses of Russia are in
sympathy with the Soviet govern
ment, even IL 10.000,000 or more people
OF that country are not. what can we
do in that country? Will not our
activity be resented-and will we not
arouse Russia to a point where she
will even be a greater aid to Ger
many than she now is?
Verify, II there is a good solution
of that problem we know there are
many people hereabouts who would
like to hear 1t.
Is there coal or is there no coal for
US in Washington?
We have seen statements to the
effect that we will have no acute coal
trouble here during the coming win
ter-and we have seen other sup
posedly authoritative statements to
the effect that a coal famine might
be expected even before all OF the
householders get their partial winter
supply laid In.
Let US have the truth-or as near
to 1t as our officials can get. 1t is
a serious matter. Let US have the
truth. There may be some excuse for
US not getting the truth on the Rus
sian situation. but there isn't the least
excuse in the world for US not having
the truth right here at home.
We fear pastors of the land must
look at their papers. and listento their
parishioners in their street talk, with
some fear for their future. For the
common words, growing by leaps and
bounds. is:
Damn the Kaiser"
But let US examine this saying
who is there who can sincerely find
fault with 1t? Il there any more
polite term which expresses our feel
ing SO completely as does this. We
doubt 1t. We have pondered the mat
ter long and seriously and we give in
to the sincerity and aggressiveness
and spontaneity carried in the above
oft-used line. We think II Is Just
right. It wouldn't be modified with
out losing some of its effectiveness.
War 10 not q time to build up the
dialect Of the parlor. II Is a time
for intense feeling to manifest IT.
self upon every occasion. And this
line, we think. exudes patriotism
and yet, Christianity-and exudes
those qualities with q commendable
and forgivable frankness,
Do you agree, gentle reader?
Mr.. Albert Fox, in his inimitabl
fashion, called attention in yesterdays
Post to the fact that Secretary Baker
seems to have breathed both hot and
cold on the exemption and classifi-
cation Of married men when the super
draft law goes through.
Nd Fox zhopld not be too hard on