New-York tribune., 1918-09-23
Defeatism Is
Dying Abroad,
Socialists Say
Wilson Peace Principles
Dominant Everywhere,
Mission Finds

The American Socialist mission, sent
abroad in July by the Social Demo
cratic League, with the approval of the
State Department, to confer with So
cialist and radical groups in the AL
lied countries, returned to the United
States yesterday, convinced that the
defeatist movement, although still
dangerous, is on the downward slant
everywhere-ex except in Germany, where
it is booming.
Charles Edward Russell, Socialist
author and memher of the mission,
said it had been his job and that of
his associates to tell Socialists abroad
what America was doing to win the
war.
Sees Victory Next Spring
Mr., Russell'a countenancc fell into
serious lines when he spoke of the
pacifist sentiment in England, France
and Italy. But he said that the re-
cent Allied victories had had a very
gratifying effect on the "peace by ne
gotiation" groups, who have begun to
talk more and more about peace By
victory"
Mr.. Russell expects the war to end
victcriously in the coming spring.
II base my conclusion OF the de-
monstrated ability Of the Allied armies
to break the Hindenburg line whenever
and wherever they please" he said.
This line can be shattered with the
coming of spring and vast additional
armies Of Americans. The Germans
know this just as they know there is
nothing in the way Of adequate defence
after the Hindenburg line is broken up.
"Will Break Germany's Back"
"Once the war is carried over onto
German soil the enemy will quit An
other winter in the trenches in hope
less cause will break Germany's back"
One Of the things that made an i'm =
preston on the members Of tho mis-
sion, Mr.. Russell said, was the gro
tesque working alliance between the
radical, syndicalist part of the labor
element with the rich conservatives
who have Lord Lansdowne for their
spokesman. "They have but one thing
i'll common" Mr. Russell explained
THAT is pactisn."
In spite of this alliance, Mr.. Russell
predicted that at the general election
in England in November Lloyd George
would prove to be stronger than ever
before.
Mr.. Russell preceded the mssion
abroad by several months in order to
open a London Office Of the Committee
on Public information, with which he
is associated. John Spargo, one of the
mission, did not return with the other
members. but is still in Italy, where
the situation, according to Mr.. Russell,
is decidedly serious.
Spargo's Work in Italy
Mr.. Spargo is making speeches scv-
cral times day and doing all in his
power to improve the morale of the
Italian workers with whom he comes
in contact.
The other members of the mission
were A. NJ. Simons, of Milwaukee,
chairman; Louis Kopelin, of Girard,
Kan, and Alexander Howat, of Pitts
burgh. The returning members issued
formal typewriter statement, in
which they set forth that pacitism in
the laboring elements among our allies
abroad is diminishing, because of tho
; military and financial strength of the
United States.
Chairman Simons said that President
Wilson's treatment of peace aims, the
labor situation generally, his demands
for democratic ending of the war,
a league of nations ard disarmament