Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-18
SENATOR PAINTS
GLOOMY PICTURE
Of j. s. IN WAR
McCumber Sees Italy Crushed,
France ASSaiIed anu England
Left to Bear Brunt-MakeS
Appeal for Ships

WASHINGTON. Jan. Ex-senator Nc
Cumber, of North Dakota, today gave
the senate a gloomy picture of the posi-
/ ton Of the United States and her allies
I'm emphasizing his plea for radical
/ speeding up of the shipbuilding pro-
gram. He declared England was now
bearing the brunt Of the war and asked
/ how long can she stand this strain?"
The United States must send 5000, 900
troops TO balance the man power of the
central powers, he said, and 1000. 900
would be needed to make the Germans
retreat
Russia and Rumania are out Of the
war" asserted Senator NcCumber
Italy is losing ground. France is un-
able to make any Roadway. The wall
of opposition at the eastern end of the
battle line in continental Europe is
crumbling. Who can say how long Italy
can or will Withstand the Teutonic pres
sure? Optimistic indeed must be the
man who will say a single year without
additional support. With Italy under
the heel Of the conqueror, with France
assailed on the flank, who can prCphesy
that that country will not quickly be
brought under the heel OF the same con-
Queror and England's army left TO bat
tie against overwhelming numbers?
This is delineating two things. First, the
the possibilities of the future. and il is
presented with the hope that we will at
least partially awaken to a realization of
what is before u.s.
Senator McCumber said the idea that
pointing out our weaknesses discour-
aged the American people and encour-
aged the enemy was a mistaken one and
declared that We must learn that les
son that boasting will not win this war"
Il h - -,
ment that Germany would be reduced
TO submission by starvation and stated
that the central powers control three
times as much territory in Europe as
does the allies. The balance of resources
held by this country, he said should not
be considered until there was tonnage to
carry men and products across the seas
The entente powers have about
reached their limit" he said. TO bal
ance the manpower of the central pow
ers this country would have to send
100000 men," and argued that another
million was necessary to overbalance
the geographical advantage of the CEN
trail nations and another million il the
United States and her allies wished to
be the aggressor, in other words 7,OOO,-
600 men to make the Germans retreat.
When the United States entered the
war the allies cried "Give us ships" de-
clared Senator McCumber. I'VE allayed
their fears; we assured them we would
supply that shipping. We took the duty
upon ourselves, the most important
the most vital duty incumbent upon US
in this war. And we have neglected that
duty beyond any other, shamefully neg
lected 1t" ....s ..-.- -...s.s,.'
They tell us il was because Of wrang-
! lings and idisagreements in the ship
ping board" he declared, and added that
he believed there was lack of apprecia-
ton of the submarine menace in the
board and that he did not believe any
member so unpatriotic as to delay shin
building while his personal differences
were being settled. He declared: 1--WE
appointed a Kilkenny shipping board
and then went to sleep" and later in
his address said:
I'VE knew we must supply Great
Britain and France and Italy. We know
we shall require 100000 men in France
before We can ever hope TO equalize the
forces Of the powers pitted against each
other. Where is our shipping? Where
is il coming from? Possibly God
knows; certainly neither the shipping
board nor the navy department knows
Senator McCumber recommended
that the United States stop sending
soldiers to France now and use all
I available tonnage for food for the allies
stimulate efforts TO attempt to produce
a ship immune to torpedo attack and
to make full and adequate test of re-
inforced concrete vessels He said he
believed the allies would emerge from
the war after securing the peace laid
down by President Wilson but was
equally certain that unless we come to
the support of our allies with shipping
facilities many times greater than we
Of mn a will h.
fore we can take their place on the
hattlafield'