New-York tribune., 1918-05-15
The Ottawa "Mystery"


the Ottawa report of a change IN plan
as to the utilization of the American
army excited both surprise and appre-
hension in this country. The denial by
Washington and subsequently by Lon
don, the statement of Secretary Baker
and Lord Reading, finally the announce
mcnt uia Ottawa of "an error in COM
pilation," seem to dispose of the ques-
tion of a change in plans, while leaving
the plain citizen even more than usually
mystified as to the working of the Off
cial mind.
The idea of training vast American
army behind the present firing line for
use next year has its romantic appeal,
but it also has patent danger. A mill
ion American troops, mainly without
battle training, suddenly thrown into
an offensive, might conceivably deal
the final blow of the war. But it would
be much more likely to go to the supreme
disaster of this greatest Of all conflicts.
To train our troops by brigading them
with French and British troops; to
train our officers by association with
experienced Allied officers under condi-
tions of battle, are obvious necessities.
if we are to have modern and effective
army. Courage without training has
been the curse of the British army, even
of the French army in a lesser degree,
and will prove the curse of our army
if we do not guard against it.
This war is business before any
thing else. German success in the war
has been due to the fact that the Ger
man has made business Of the thing
from the beginning. His latest offensive
represents the correlation and collec-
tion of all the lessons of previous Of
fensives and their application in
manner which must continue to COM
mand the admiration even Of his enemy.
On the technical side there has been
nothing in this war surprising the re-
cent German offensive of March 21.
The story of the making of the Brit
ish army was the story of transform
ing a civilian population alike into Of
ficers and private soldiers. 1t has been
a glorious achievement, but an achieve
ment which has been expensive in the
very best of British manhood and the
very finest elements in the British pop
ulation. In the bloody days of 1915 it
was necessary to put green troops into
the line and into battle. The result was
staggering casualty lists. And the same
thing was true in 1916 at the Somme.
Let us in America not be deluded
either by any grandiose dream of win
ming the war by one colossal blow, or
of preserving the individuality of an
American army at the expense of the
lives of the American soldiers. 1t is
a mistake and it will remain a mistake
to attempt to use our troops in great
numbers until the smaller units have
had training at the front in association
with and under the command of British
or French officers.
Had the Ottawa announcement proven
correct there would have been and there
should have been mighty protest in
this country against policy which could
lead only to the sacrifice now of the last
reserves of our allies in trained troops
and to the later immolation of vast
masses of our own troops who would be
sent into major action destitute Of
battle training.
President Wilson never did wiser or
better thing than when he ordered our
troops to be brigaded with French and
British troops. This was not merely a
contribution to Allied safety at critical
moment; it was the adoption of policy
with respect to our troops which should
be maintained until we have large body
of trained officers and men of our own.
After that, we can expand our forces as
it may be necessary.
There is another aspect of the discus
sion of the American plans which ia
highly disquieting. 1t is mistake. and
should be recognized as such. to believe
that the German offensive is over or that
we have passed the point where we need
fear further German successes. This il
not the truth. On the contrary. every
military man knows that there is going
to be another German blow, that it will
be heavy blow and that even though it
again miss supreme success, as every one
believes, it is at least possible that it will
inflict staggering losses and achieve
dangerous local success. The difference
between confidence born of determine
tion and optimism growing out of mis-
calculation should be clear to every one
now. We have survived the first shock
Of the German blow Of 1918. We have