Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-17
KATSER'S OVERTHROW
ESSENTIAL TO PEACE
Mai. Powell, War Correspond
ent, Loan Booster, Fight
ing Man, States the Case

"T have mo- fears whatever llot iH'
Allies viii not eventually win. hui i.'N
have a long way TO go yet Th" worst
menace that they face i- ja" danger
that Americans will get the idea ,ual
the war viii not last much longer and
win give it only indInercn, support
That is just what the German Kaiser
Is counting on
In these words Major r.. Alexander
Powell, war correspondent, author. Lib
erty Loan booster and fighting man,
Summarized his views today regarding
the situation on the western front.
Perhaps no man in the United States
Is more familiar with conditions i'm Iiu-
rope than is Major Powell. At the out
break of the war i'm 1914 he went to
Belgium as correspondent for the New
York World and London Times He
remained in Europe i'm this capacity.
covering every mile of the western
front until the entrance Of the United
States into the conflict "a year ago. when
he returned TO the United States and
entered one Of tine officers reserve corps
training camps. coming out with COM
mission as major. lie was assigned to
duty at Camp Lewis, American Lake,
near Tacoma Wash. but later was
transferred TO the Springfield Arsenal in
order 10 famildriZc himself with the
Browning rifle. and is at present as
sistant to the chief Of staff of the
Ninety-first Division. Recently hr was
Borrowed by the War Department for
work in the third Liberty Loan CAM
paign,
1T must not be forgotten" said
Major Powell, that there was time
when Napoleon had stabbed his horses
IN every capital Of Europe. and vet
Napoleon died Iu exile at ST. Helena
Napolcon's armies Were iuviuciblc, but
he failed because always, at the critical
moment, England's navy was in COM
plete control of the seas
The same logic prevails I'm the pres
ent situation. II Is not too much to say
that even if Germany should put France
and Italy out Of business she would still
be beaten because the British and Amer
ican nayles are now and will continue in
control Of the seas. But il must be rec
membcrcd that this would mean "a very
hong war--louger than any of as has
yet taken into consideration.
What ! believe is most tp Dee feared
Is that German diplomacy within the
next few months will put forth a peace
plan that will prove nothing more than
tempting trap for her exhausted
enemies. Suppose, for instance. that Ger
many should agree TO let France have
linquish Trentino to Italy. both agree
ing to pay an indemnity for the restura-
tion of Belgium, all upon the under
Standing that Germany should have q
free hand in Russia and the Balkans.
The bait would look aluring to pacinsts
and superficial observers, but it would
be just the sort of peace that would bc
most 10 Gcrmany's advantage. for it
would give her time at her leisure to
afahf In. 4
power Of AN enormous empire gain con-
troll Of the Orient and get ready for e
war which would be far worse than the
present one. There can Doe mo- lasting
peace until German autOcracy is abs0-
lutely crushed"
Major Powell described the situation
in Russia as a race between Germany to
organize the military and food resources
Of that country and the United States to
get her army into action before that can
be accomplished. Everything, ne said,
depends upon speed and still more speed
or the part of this nation to get her full
man-power into action before the Kaiser
can obtain the fruits of the collapse Of
Russia.
Major Powell was high in his praise Of
the results accomplished by the ord
nance Department Of the United States
army In spite of the criticism that has
been visited upon that department, he
said, the fact stands out that since the
war began il has developed the best
machine gun, the best rifle, the best ann
munition and the best pistol in use in
any army in the world
-Four books on the war have come
from Major Poweil's pen. Perhaps the
best known Is Fighting in Flanders" ."
Others are "ENe LII France" Brothers
ln Armsr and Italy al War"