New-York tribune., 1918-04-16
Germans Striving to Shat
ter British Before u. S.
Aid Arrives
Motive Behind
Whole Campaign
Another Miscalculation bv
Enemy, Secretary Tells
Labor Mission

LONDON, April 15.-Germany stands
to-day as a predatory nation and is
trying to destroy the British and
French armies before the American
forces can be brought into the field
said Arthur J. Balfour, Minister fo1
Foreign Affairs, in responding to a
toast at a luncheon to the American
labor delegation to-day.
Pointing out that the destruction of
Germany has never been an Allied aim
| and desired, so far as he knew, by "no
sane man." Mr.. Balfour said that the
Germans had made many miscalcula-
tions, but none more grievous than to
underestimate the power of America
England, he said, is confident that
America will be able to send over her
"lndomltable troops in a way that no
German General Staff officer has ever
calculated" "It is men we need now,'
he concluded
"The German plan," continued Mr..
Balfour, "is to shatter the British
army before the American weight can
be brought into the scale The Ger
man inspired press has been instructed
by its masters to show the utmost con-
tempt for the American military effort.
tempt. They are planning their whole
campaign and are sacrificing men with
reckless extravaganza in order that the
American help may arrive after their
blow has been struck"
Americas Spirit Shown
In proposing a toast to the Allied
cause at the luncheon to the American
labor delegation Mr.. Balfour said:
"The two speeches which we have
just listened to would have convinced
any doubter, il such exists elsewhere,
that the spirit in which the United
States of America have thrown them
selves into this great struggle is a
spirit of idealism, not in the sense in
which idealism evaporatcs in eloquent
phrases and empty formula, but in that
spirit in which idealism recognizes that
to bring his ideals to fruition one must
make efforts and show those great sac
rifices which are now being SO surely
demonstrated by our friends and broth
crs across the Atlantic"
That mission, he proceeded, repre-
senting as it did the activities OF the
United States in so many different
c,o
on British shores at a moment of in
terest. 1t was moment of special
interest, not chiefly because Of the
great and anxious struggle now going
on, but because the Allies had revealed
to them in plain, unmistakablc char
acteristics both the political and mill
tary plans of those who controlled the
destinies Of Germany.
1--WE have been the witnesses during
the last year or year and half" he
said, "of strange tergiversation on the
part of those who wished to delude
either the German. neutral or. it might
be. even the Allied public, with regard
to German intentions and methods.
Germany's Attitude Has Changed
There was moment before the
facile success which Germany obtained
against an unresisting enemy, an en-
emy in the East. when German states
men and German members of parla-
ment discussed public affairs, which
would lead one to suppose that Ger
many was in high way to democratic
of the four principles which President
Wilson has made famous throughout
the world Events in the East gave
them a facile success over the takers
in Russia, and the whole aspect of pol
itics and public opinion among the
Central Powers has entirely changed.
"They now almost cynically admit
that the resolution of the Reichstag,
of which VIC have heard SO much, all
mites, of considering the wishes Of
subject populations, Of spreading the
principles of security and freedom
throughout the world, was what we
sometimes call camouflage."
All that was now thrust aside. Ger
man methods were actually being car
ried out before the eyes of all in the
case Of Rumania and in other commu-
mites bordering on the eastern from
tiers of Germany. In moments of ad
versity, continued the Secretary. Ger
had been taught, indeed, by the states
men of the Allied powers, and princi-
pally by President Wilson, but which
she had learned but imperfectly and
understood not at all.
A Robber State
That was one of the phases Of con-
temporary events which made the
present moment extremely interesting.
The other was the plain, clear rcvela-
ton of the German military plans.
"She now stands forth undsguised
as a robber state" declared Mr.. Bal
four. "How is she going to carry out
her robbery, so far as her internal
politics are concerned? Her methods
arc simple. If things are going wrong,
or are not going as we'll as her op-
timists expected. then they tell the
German public You must fight on be-
cause the powers against whom you are
fighting desire pothing less and will
be content with nothing less, than the
total destruction Of your country
can absolute falsehood. The de-
struction Of Germany has never been
Continued on Neat Page, Col. 7