The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-05

Nobody outside the German Main headquarters knows for certain what the plan is, and whether this immense force is accommodating for the purpose of supporting negotiations or for a grand attack. But certainly all the evidence that I can obtain, including that of the German press for what is is worth, points to the impending de- livery of a series of great attacks, and in any case our business is to be pre- pared for it. Very likely the ques- tion whether there should be this grand attack or not, has formed the subject of anxious investigation since the losses are certain to be immense, but such evidence as there is points to the probability of the attack talk ing place. It is the year of the deci- sion, and the great trial of the nerves and courage of governments people, navies and armies is at hand.
 We cannot expect that either Bel gium or Portugal can much increase their contingents with our armies. Italy is rapidly recovering herself and should be able to withstand a purely Austrian attack in May, when the Tyro1 will be more accessible for Austrian columns. But the line on which the Italian armies stand does not appeal to me. The American troops are not coming in as fast as some sanguine estimates foretold, but I feel sure that General Bridges, who accompanied MT. Balfour to the Uni ted States, must have given the War Cabinet pretty accurate forecast The American army can only be a contingent during the next few months, and this is all the more reas- on why we in this year 1918 should place every available man in the field. The French armies retain all their historic and martial qualities. They are now admirably commanded, and though they are somewhat reduced in their old strengths, M. Clemen- ceaus speech on November 2S last shows that this brave old statesman is calling upon every man, young and old, despite the great sufferings of France and the fact that the land of France, which has become almost in- sular, suffers much from lack of la bor. I want to tell the people of Eng land, and particularly those Minister ;al poltroons who bleat about our losses that our total casualties-kill- ed, wounded and missing-since the war began are but little higher than the number of the French dead. The only suitable recognition that we can make of French heroism is to help them now in their hour of need.
 Our valiant British armies in France have not meen adequately maintained or reinforced since Lord I<itchener's death. Our War Cabinets, contrary to all the principles of strat- egy, have scattered our available forces about the world, and now that the crisis is coming in France we shall have to pay for these imbecilities. l give to political strategy the first place among the causes wn1cn nave brought about the present critical sit uation on the Western front. Not single trained and competent soldier that I knew has approved the fatal dispersion of our forces represented by our adventures at the Dardanelles, Sa1onika, Palestine, and Mesopotamia. A comparison of our aggregate forces with those of the enemy has never at any time justified these expeditio::s, which have cost us untold losses oH men, money and ships, have never promised a decision of any kind, and are completely valueless except for the peroration of a demagogue.
 Only second among the causes o1
 the crisis place the failure of our
 War Cabinets, and particularly of the
 present cabinet to maintain the
 strengths of our armies in the field and to prolong the Kitchener policy
 of continually reinforcing them with
 fresh divisions. This second errol
 arose partly and automatically out o1
 the first, and is enduring owing te
 the lack of courage and candor among
 ministers. I regard Sir Douglas Haig':
 recent statements that his drafts dit
 oot reach him in time to be proper Ilv trained, and that he had to figh l131 German divisions with half tha- humber. as the most damning indict Iment of the War Cabinet that an! lman could have made.
 I rejoiced, like most people, wheI
 MT. Lloyd George became Prim' Minister, because I thought it mean
 the more vigorous prosecution of th'