New-York tribune., 1918-04-09
Strength Will Not Be
Fully Felt Until 1920

Al beginning is made at once On
plans to enlarge the industrial facili-
ties necessary for turning out more
guns, this country will only begin to get
additional guns in the end of 1919 and
will only reach the West front in over
whelming force in the spring of 1920.
The delay in adopting an adequate az
tillery programme will postpone this
ccuntry's eXcrting it's full power
against Germany till 1920.
But it is an illustration of the new
spirit which is beginning to be shown
here that men do not ask whether the
war will still be going on in 1920. Mem
bers of the Administration talk now
OF winning the war and of making
preparations with that end in view no
matter how long it takes.
The present German offensive has
shown that it is possible to break
trench deadlock if enough guns are
available to strike hard all along a.
fiftymile front at onee.~~-This was
never done until Germany, uniting all
her West front guns, her East front
guns, the Austrian guns, the guns capt
ured in Italy and the guns captured in
Russia, had such preponderance of
artillery that she could make a tre-
mendous attack fifty miles long.
Decision in West
Depends on Guns
If the Allies finally hold the great Ger
man drive will have served one good
purpose. 1t will have shown exactly what
has to be done to win. The gun power
of the Allies, including this country
will have to be brought up equal to
Gcrmany's, and, in addition, it will
have to be made as much superior to
Gcrmany's as Germanys is now supe-
rior to the Allies on the West front.
Most Of this additional gun power
VIII have to come from this country
This is the greatest steel producing
nation in tie world. There is the po-
tentlality of guns that will smother
Germany here. The offensive has shown
how the war can be won. And Wash
lngton is beginning to profit by the
lesson.
The relief of the existing situation
in Europe is a pressing need, for Ger
many's superiority in weapons 8 threat
ening to the Allies. The only possibil-
lty of early relief appears to lie in
Japan's coming to Europe with her ar
tlllery and in Japan's turning he fac
tories which have been making guns
and shell for Russia to producing artil-
lery and ammunition for the Allies.
This question of using the Japanese
artillery on the West front, in Italy or
in Salonica has often been discussed
The transporting of it is feasible II
does not present the problem that
transporting and maintaining a Japan
ese army to Europe would present
Japan is supposed to be we'll equipped
with artillery and to have large ca
pucity for producing it.
The prospects of increased Japanese
cooperation in the war are probably
better now than at any time in the
past. Germany's victory in the East
and the common danger it involves
have drawn all the Allies closer to-
gcther than ever before since the war
began. 1t is possible to feel that here
in Washington.
The prospect Of an immensely power
full German empire, extending from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, has brought the
war home to this country as nothing
else has. 1t must have brought the war
home to Japan many times more. The
last thing Japan wants is Germany for
neighbor in the East. Germany domi-
mating Russia would mean for Japan
precisely what Germany dominating
South America would mean for US.