Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-07
By CHARLES H. CRASTY
cpecial Cable to Evening Public Ledger
right. 1918. by New York Times Go.


London, Aug. 7.
The Americans here are all solid in
their faith in the military success in
France. They expect some kind of
spectacular enterprise from the Ger
s man navy as a last card and they are
prepared for further blows in France
but the military men don't believe that
Hindenburg can ever hit as hard in
the future as in the past, while the
Allies grow constantly stronger.
While this optimism on the military
side is general. one hears many warn
ings respecting conditions hitherto
pointed out in these cables. The coal
outlook in particular is giving concern
J to those who deal with subjects Of
supply and transport. One who speaks
with knowledge said today:
There must be immediate co-ordi-
4 mated effort for the production and
& distribution of fuel for future months.
The main supplies for England
France and Italy must be drawn from
! British mines The labor is necessar
Z fly British. And yet inevitably the
hasty methods Of recruiting the Brit,
ish army in the field has depleted the
ranks of industrial labor to an extent
which imperils the fuel supply for the
next winter
Troops May Suffer
"rhe conditions do not concern the
! civilian population alone, though they
are serious in that quarter where good
morale is so closely related to military
operations. The armies also are di
rectly affected.
unless intelligently planned actor
on large scale is carried out prompt.
2 Iy. our troops will probably be sub
1ected to great suffering next winter
The climate Of Europe is extremely
( irving. Even now in midsummer
many of us find 1t difficult to keep
warm. When winter comes, naturally
the conditions will be much harder.
American soldiers are accustomed
TO warmth, and while otherwise hearty
and rugged. cannot stand extreme
cold.
'T am sure that America will i'm
mediately respond to the need of provid-
ing our army with the means of keeping
warm and healthy. To accomplish this
there should be an infusion of the
energetic spirit characteristic of Ameri.
cans when the emergency presents itself
y The recent trouble is labor scarcity.
~ The urgent necessity exists to fit II
up without a moments delay. and most
strepuously. Our method of wagins
war as separate nations instead OF
under unified supervision involves a
tremendous loss OF efficiency II is un.
thinkable that England will still bt
combing men out of mines for military
duty in France instead of drawing or
3 America for soldiers and keeping tn,
British miners at work where thei
JAMOrr counts a he
There is no limit to the mischie
which may result from allowing mat
fers to drift along until IL is too late {,
make and carry out a well-ordered ant
far-reaohing plan.
"A Definite Measures Needed
81 'winter is near and every day /
r.sprecious. Everybody knows in a vagu
way how serious the outlook is, an,
especially in France and Italy, but ther
Is still wanting concentrated attentio
and definite measures TO provide a~ains
the impending danger
Perhaps when America understand
that our troops now playing such
brave part in battle are facing the in
clemencies of a European winter with
out proper provision for their health an
comfort the Government will move 70
quick, effective action.
e with the example of the success c
the military unified command befor
our eyes, 1t is difficult to understan
why the fme sound principle Is M
applied. the Allies had some or
man c le non-military side CORE
spondi Foch on the military. or
could write down the Germa
prspe lil but the Allies may VIII
the in the field and still civ
then. zee for some sort of con
promise Algh the Allied scatteratic
and procrastination.
Perhaps Lord Reading. who now vi
= derstands American conditions. is brin,
ing some plant tC set the Allied hou.