Evening star., 1925-10-04

as an important factor in the war.
And Lord kitchener's idea Of Ameri-
can cooperation was much more d.
rect than Grey's. At the outset the
foreign secretarys purpose was to
keep Anslo-A merican relations on SO
even d keel that our foodstuffs, our
war munitions, our steel. our copper,
and other materials would flow unin.
terrupt edly into British ports, while
the British navy. in fun command of
the seas, was keeping these same
materials out Of Germany.
The time me- when Grey's pro
gram went much further. Lord
Kitchener, however. from the first
with the more brutal directness OF
the practical soldier. WAS determined
TO make the United States mill
tary ally. He wanted nothing less
than an American army. II neces
sary millions strong, fighting by the
side Of the British and the French
Whatever criticisms may justly fall
on kitchener's head, one truth al
least is clear: he completely under
stood the magnitude of his problem
His famous prediction that the war
would last at least three years was
more than a happy prophecy: 1t was
a deliberate calculation. Another
opinion, which Kitchener did not
publish. was that without the mill
tary support OF the United States the
allies could not win. He shared the
Judgment of Gen. French. expressed
to Page on two occasions and reported
by the Amba ssa dor to the President
that the military situation. after the
battle Of the Marine was an inevita BILE
deadlock.
Gen. French's solution WAS peace
kitchener's plan was an America r
in these Autumn months Of 1914 thu.
presents double drama: one in which
the leading performer was Sir Ed
ward Grey. sitting in the massive
foreign office in Downing street. skill
fully handling American problems in
a way that would keep the America n
markets open to the entente, while
another figure, more rigid, more di
rect. perhaps even more determined
was quietly at work only a few hun
dred feet away. hoping to make the
United States an active force In the
| war.
Sir Edward Grey conducted his
negotiations through Page Lord
Kitchener however. knew little OF
amba assadors; he really understood
only one type of man, and that was
the soldier. Fortunately the Ameri
can Army had a particularly worthy
representa- tive in London a that time
Col. George o. Squier was as much
of an innovation as military attache
AS was Page as Amba ssador. Until
his appointement. the American mill
tary attache in London had not taken
his duties any too seriously. When
Gen. Leonard Wood became chief OF
staff. however, he decided to make
this post more important. The sci
ence of war had made great prog
ress: the business of a military at
tache, thought Gen. Wood. should be
to survey the great armed camp
which Europe had become and de
rive from it such lessons as would
promote the military prepare tions OF
the United States.
For this reason, Col. Squier, much
to his astonishment. was transferred
| to the London embassy in 1912. Col
Squier was a man of great scientific
| attainments. In addition to his mill
| tary education. received at West
Point, he held the doctorate of John,
Hopkins University, where he ha6
been pupil in. physics of Rowland
Col. Squier had spent the larger par,
Of his military career in scientife
| investigation. His inventions In cable
| transmission and his wireless had
already enrolled him as one of the
| greatest workers in this field. Un
der new conditions of warfare. there
fore. Col. Squier seemed to be the mar
! for this London post.
When Page reached London h.
! found Col Sauier well esta blished a,
military attache. Page was not Al
| first familiar with his reputation tn.
military attache was a modest and
'undemonstrativs man. Page became