New-York tribune., 1920-05-15
To the Editor Of, the Tribune.


Sir:
mo act Of humanity, whether to
friend or foe, should lead to neglect of
the proper precautions and disposition
Of war, and no measures can be taken
to save life which prejudice the military
situation"
This is not an extract from any "con-
fldential cable" dispatched by an erudite
statesman on this side of the Atlantic to
subordinate naval officer three thou
sand miles distant.
But these few simple words constitute
the major clause in the formal orders
published September "a, 1914, by the
British Admiralty following the loss
Of the cruisers Aboukir, Hogue and
Cressy, which were sunk by German
submarine attack in the North Sea, and
in which nearly ! 400 men and three
score officers were lost.
The present is not an opportune time
to indulge in inimical comparison Of the
achievements of the Grand Fleet of
Great Britain with the United States
red blooded American and every true
hearted Britisher will support the con-
clusion that to no individual nation can
be attributed the entire credit for sub
DUNG the Hun.
Silent Watchers
However, it cannot be amiss to in
dulge in "reminiscences Of what we know
has taken place, particularly when the
President of the United States sits in
silence while his secret cables are being
published broadcast to the world mes
sages that can create only doubt as to
the achievements of the Silent Watchers
who kept from Americas shores 'the
flame of a burning world"
In his lamentable message the Presi-
dent declared the British "were helpless
TO the point Of panic" This he had the
temerty to say less than ninety days
after the United States had abandoned
its policy of "strict neutrality" and had
assumed the task of self-preservation
This he said after three years bitter
fighting by the men Of Great Britain
and her allies-for until then she had
no "associate"
But what had really been done by this
"panc-strcken' Admiralty?
In less than a fortnight after Britain
entered the war six and a half million
tons of shipping in all seas OF the world
al, ~, cto al; IL,
curtailment of the mercantile marine ac-
tivites of the Central Powers.
From august, 1914
Before the end of August Kitchener's
contemplate little army was rushed
across the Channel, and all the legions
Of its followers were likewise trans
ported. The Grand Fleet and its thou
sands of auXiliaries were keeping guard
throughout the world. During that same
month two divisions of cavalry sailed
from India for Egypt en- route to
france. During September and October
yet another brigade was sent from India
to East Africa in time to avert an in
Naslon Of the British colony there that
might have had worse results. In Octo-
Der and November twenty batteries of
horse, field and heavy artillery and thir
ty-two battalions of regular infantry
were relieved by the transport of an
equivalent force of Territorials and
force OF infantry was dispatched to as
slst Japan in the successful occupation
of kiaochau Bay. Every German colony
was isolated from its center and pre-
pared for capture, while Of the two mil
lion men of enemy origin who might
nave otherwise returned home ito Join,
the armies scarcely handful was able
to do so. Not a single dominion, colony
or depedency of Great Britain or her