Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-11

England has frequently announced, and
rightly, that her complete victory must be won
on the continent of Europe That will require
more than twice as many men as England can
raise. The deficiency must come from Ameri-
can manhood.
Such an attack will cost hundreds of thou
sands and millions of American lives. Yes,
millions 1t cost the Allies the lives of more
than 100000 men to fend off Germany in the
last war; more will probably be required to
retake the continent from Germany now.
No real soldier underestimate his adver
sary; Germany has a powerful, veteran and
thoroughly equipped army, and we might in
deed be defeated in attempting to attack it on
it's own field of operations.
Wishful thinkers publicly announce that if
America enters this war Germany will quit or
be defeated by economic causes without the
use of American manhood. How familiar. This
was the prevailing utterance on our entry into
the last World War; but only when more than
100000 of us had been sent overseas was
the German army, victorious in March-June,
1917, given military defeat in October
November, 1917. l know; ended up near
Sedan, November II.
Persistence in our present policy will inevi-
tably lead to war. Georges Clemenceau, the
Tiger of France, in a thoughtful article on
WAR" written during the "Kellogg-Briand
outlaw war pact period" concluded that war
does not begin with the declaration of a state
of war but in "Rhythms of War" that pre-
cede it.
We have all the "Rhythms of War;" Stab
in the Back" ETC., speeches. When we send
part of our navy to belligerent we, accord
ing to our own standards, commit an act of
war.
Proposed measures like the lend-lease-
really a gift-bill provide for further acts of
war.
EFT us return to the traditional American
IL morale and policy, which was so success
full of relying on ourselves and not seeking to
settle the recurrent problems and wars of the
Old World-an impossible task even for US.
In the last war we, to save democracy" for
the first time deviated from our traditional
policy We spent $4,000 fine American lives,
many thousands of mutilated American man.
hood and almost 80 billion American dollars,
and gained nothing even the nations we saved
soon ignored or criticized us.
This time it would cost much more both in
men and dollars.
Let us build up our own defense, air, navy
and army, particularly materel, to the high
est possible efficiency in the shortest possible
time, taxing currently at the highest rates
consistent with sound economics.
Thus we can withstand any combination of
aggressors But if we send our planes to Eng
land, we lack them for ourselves; our pilots
cannot even acquaint themselves with the type
of plane they should fly, coordination in
which takes weeks and months.
Further materel sent to England may be
captured and used against us as materiel cap
tured in France is being used against England
despite Frances previous promises; govern
ment compelled to sue for peace will always
make the best possible deal for its own people
regardless of prior promises to other nations.
Assuming that Hitler will attack us if he
defeats England of which there is doubt
because of the necessity of consolidating
recent gains in Europe and the danger of
leaving Russia a potential enemy at his
back-we could fight better here with all the
advantages of communication, transportation,
proximity to bases and supplies, etc., rather
than attack Hitler in Europe where he has
all these and other advantages.
Further, in trying to defeat Hitler in
Europe we would incur vastly greater chance
of defeat and lose ncomparably more men.
am not a Germanophile. l spent almost
II years "over there" in the last war; have
friends in England and France and sincerely
hope England beats Germany.
But, like most Americans I hoped, too,
that Ethiopia would defeat Italy, China defeat
Japan, etc. without feeling it Americas bur-
den to accomplish all these
CHARLES A. WAGNER,