The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-20
Wilson Insisted That The
United States Should
Not Waste Strength
ADMISSION COMES
FROM LLOYD GEORGE
Believed That Allies Will
Not Await German Of
fensive In West
CBy Associated Press.l

washington, Feb. 2O.-Frank adj
mission by Premier Lloyd George
yesterday that the convincing demand
for unified military effort under a
single directing body had come from
the United States, confirmed the i'm
preston that has prevailed here since
the proposal to send the mission
headed by Colonel House to Europe
first became known. 1t was known
unofficially at that time, that Presl-
dent Wilson had become convinced
that the allied cause stood in grave
danger unless a. central body could
he erected with authority to initiate
vigorous warfare based on a well d.
gested plan Of strategy that covered
all fronts.
The President was determined that
the United States should not waste
its strength in the war. but should,
with the -belligerents, wage an Of
fensive battle of the most vigorous
character. His military and naval
advisers had strongly urged upon
him the advisability Of seeking to
unite all the forces opposed to Ger
many into a single unit of military
power, striking every blow for its
relations to a grand scheme of cam
paign and wasting no strength in
fensiyes on the several fronts.
The Italian Disaster.
The italian disaster has been cited
as a striking example of what the
lack of complete cooperation among
the allies might bring about. When
the Austro German drive into Italy
began, the Italian armies were
threatening the very heart Of the
whole German military fabric. The
mighty German defenseS on the west
ern front were threatened from the
rear for Austria was crumbling I'M
der the punishment administered by
the forces Of General Cadorna. There
are officers here who believe that the
war would have been virtually over
now, had Cadorna's great effort been
made with the full support of the
British and French behind it. Fall
ing that, ii was swept back and the
enemy given the best military posi-
ton he had occupied since the defeat
OF his drive at Paris in 1914.
Profess ignorance.
Army officers here profess COM
pIete ignorance Of the plan of cam
paign mapped out by the Versailles
supreme war council and upon which
Lloyd George unhesitatingly staked
The survival Of his government. In
pointed out, the premier knew beyond
question that the defeat of his min
istry and the consequent withdrawal
of Great britain from adherence to
the full purpose of the Versailles
council meant that no highly organ
lied allied offensive could be looked
forward to this year.
The premier's statement did not
throw any light on the plan Of action
agreed uROn at Versailles. His words
apparently were carefully weighed to
prevent amy inkling Of that plan from
being drawn from them. The prompt
ness Of his challenge to his critics,
however, and the unreserved nature
of that challenge, was interpreted
here as a hint at great events soon
to come.
Taken in connection with Presi-
dent Wilson's recent statement that
1918 would be the decisive year and
the repeated warnings, from the
western front that a great German
offensive is imminent there, yester-
days proceedings in London are re-
garded as highly significant.
1t has been asserted officially and
unoff1cially that the allies still have
q preponderance Of men and gums on
the western front, and the belief here
is that the allied council would not
be content to await the blow Of the
enemy.
The explanation Of the premier Of
the rejection of General Sir William
Robertson's proposal to place sub
ordinate officer as Great Britain's
representative on the supreme coun-
ell, probably throws light upon the
purpose of the Washington govern
ment in continuing. General Tasker
ii. Bliss, it's representative at Yer
sailles, as chief of staff, although all
OF his functions in that capacity are
in process Of transfer to Major Cen
eral Peyton @. March.