Evening star., 1918-08-16
WEST FRONT POLICY.
OF U. S. |NDORSED
Secretary Bakers Statement
Gratities Allied Men in
This City.
AID OF RUSSIA WILL GO ON

Official announcement of this gov
ernment's program for the prosecution
of the var is construed from seere-
tary Bakers statement to the Senate
committee on military affairs, quoted
in the report of that body on the man
power bill.
sThe theory of the fighting in the
future" said Secretary Baker, "is that
we must force the issue and win on
the western front" He was speaking
for President Wilson and e1pounding
the Presidents policy.
The statement has attracted pro-
found attention in military circles
and among the war missions OF the
allied governments now present In
Washington. 1t was particularly
gratifying to the French, British.
Italian and Belgian war missions.
composed of men who are conversant
at first hand with conditions on the
/ fighting front and with the desperate
needs of the situation.
Would Compel a Decision.
AS construed here. the governments
declaration of policy means the com
, pslling of military decision. II does
/ not imply merely carrying on with
+; the allies. prolonginS the war. hoping
to wear down the enemy or depending
upon some fortuitous train OF circum-
/ stances to bring the struggle te an
'end-
1t means equipping the military
arm with power sufficient to deliver a
decisive blow or succession OF IT.
hat will
decision. 1t promises to make Tor
4. shortening the war. and in the only
, way acceptable to the ideals OF
america and the allies-tnrough a
military victory which will enable the
allies and not the Teutonic powers to
write the terms of peace for the fu-
ture-
Americans Changed Situation.
Every circumstance ard condition
. poin. to the success of the program Ihe
throwing of a million and n quarter OF
. men into the battle has already given
the initial impetus to ultimate victory,
Foch's counter attack attained success
through the reinforcement of American
I troops. There is ever. practical anu
frebling Or quadruD,..s of this rein
forcement. witi;in the space OF a year.
will overpoweT tire enemy and bring
terms.
crce be Siver the Ere.c1, British, Ifal-
ian and Belgian forces by this declara-
tion of the American government as to
its future policy. made In unequivocai
language at the highest official source.
The United States Is now in the fight
TO force a decision. throwing into the
balance its man power, money ana muni-
tons. with definitely declared aim
The policy thus announced is expected
: to find an echo lin Congress. 1t is the
characteristicaEy American way, it is
said, to announce that the aim is a
military victory in a defined region. and
J tire bending Of every national effort to
attain it.
Russian Aid Plans to Go On.
Meanwhile plans for helping Russia
to get Oh her feet will be prosecuted
b. this country and Japan on the
eastern Siberian front and by the
United States. Great Britain and
France with the Czecho-Slovaks in
central and western Russia. while
Great Britain will attend to the Turk
I. ish and Macedonian fronts, Italy to
! the austrian front and possibly a
move on the Albanian front.
But the big thing. the important
jfhinR. is :; victory on the western
/ front by force of arms and superior
| numbers and the shortening of the
war in consequence. To this attain
tncnt the United States is now pledged.
\ and 1t viii be achieved in the opinion
Of competent authority here.