Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-29

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We now know that the Government, in
making this comparison, was not taking
into account the men whom Germany
could bring over from the east nor the
relative provision made by Germany anc
by the Allies for keeping up their armies
in the field during the first half of the
campaign of 1918.
Napoleon said that In war the greatest
general Is he who makes the fewest
mistakes. and the tasks which confront
governments in a national war are not
less intricate and complicated than those
with which the commanders in the field
have to deal. Mistakes therefore are
Inevitable, but the best way of over
coming and avoiding their repetition is a
frank acknowledgment that they have
been made.
Anxious to Know Need
Now that we have had to call upon
our older classes, and the fathers of
families and the men upon whom the
efficiency of business, both large and
small, depends, are called to the colors.
the country is anxious to know exactly
what the need is and to be assured tina
the best possible use is being made of
the men now being taken for the army.
Application of national service in the
midst of war Is an extraordinary, diff
cult and complicated business. In order
that 1t might be passed by general con-
sent. numerous pledges had to be given
which have in the long run interfered
with it's smooth working and with the
evenness OF its application. Injustices
have. therefore, been frequent and un-
avoidable. for the burden which has
fallen upon the man taken has often
been greater than would have been
borne by the man who, owing to the
defects of a hasty improvision, was left
When our difficulties are compared
with those of a country such as France
which has for long and in the quiet
times OF peace perfected the machinery
of national service, where every man
knows the call which may be made upon
him and approximately when 1t will have
to be met, it is to the undying credit of
our country that they have been over
come with SO little friction and with
such general good will.
But the process of overcoming these
difficulties Is, as Sir Auckland Geddes
has just explained. a very slow business.
The intention Is that per cent of the
older men shall be posted to the army
this year. but now we are informed. at
the end Of June, that less, than ne-third
of / per cent has actually been posted.
We also know that after these older
men have been posted they are used by
the military authorities to replace young
er men combed out of the auxiliary
services behind the front so as to release
them for the fighting line.
This also must obviously take time.
When our methods are SO cumbrous-
unavoidably cumbrous-it is obvious
that we have to look, as have repeated
ly said, n long way ahead. We did not
look far enough ahead and therefore.
as the prime minister has just said, the
emergency Is a serious one 1t Is an
overwhelming one." The Germans have
brought over more and more men from
Russia. and the Allies have not had a
corresponding number of fresh reserves
ready to place In the field. We have
had heavy losses and men have not been
ready In sufficient numbers to make
them good.
That this is so is clear from what the