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HTNOMUIOUOAADEATIA A IIUUIIATITI I K M IVIAIVIVTEUIUTUTVIT UU AUTSU AU ANNAN \ TL AULA | TMU IU TT INN 2 i HOUTA TTT VOL. 47 CLEVELAND MAY, 1917 NEW YORK No. 5 Early Developments at Washington Arouse Doubts of Congress Meeting Crisis Eff- ciently—Early Blunders of France and England Furnish Lessons—"Short-War™ Fallacy NCLE SAM must go to school. Our _ boasts about our low rate of illiteracy, our pride in our educational system, avail us little at this time. When a man well versed in English literature picks up a rifle and dons a uniform, he becomes but a child. When a nation schooled in peace enters a modern war, it must take an intensive course in order to learn how to fight. It is characteristic of a big peace-loving democracy that its conquests are industrial or social, not militaristic. Preparations for war are not a part of the program of free peoples. But when war does come, its unaccustomed lessons must be learned quickly and completely. . No one questions America’s ability to fight. But the distinction between being able to fight and knowing how to fight; is a broad one which widens with every advance in military science. ; Comments upon the need of training, the necessity of universal co-operation, the importance of co-ordi- nating our governmental, financial and_ industrial activities, are relieved from the commonplace that repetition begets, by developments of the first days of war. To the American who has studied the experi- ence of the great European democracies, France and England, and remembers the. costly sacrifices caused by their early blunders, these lessons are clear. What excuses may be raised for their “muddling along” policy, cannot be raised in extenuation for similar mistakes we may make now. What the “Short War’ Theories Have Done The short: war fallacy was the parent of many of the mistakes made by our new allies. Politicians avoided, with the nation’s approval, the early adoption of measures that would have saved thousands of lives. Kitchener with his prediction of three years of war stood almost alone. Every measure adopted was intended to meet a temporary condition and the loss of Serbia, Montenegro, Poland, Rumania, the defeats at Nueve Chappelle, Loos, in the Champagne and at Gallipoli and Kut-el-Amara were the result. The war may not last another year; American ‘would be used effectively. troops may never enter the trenches on the western front; American battleships may never fire a hostile shot. But peace will come all the sooner, if America concentrates her immense resources from now on in the assumption that the war will last indefinitely. Germany, conceivably, may again propose peace next winter. The possibility approaches a probability if she has arrayed against her at that time an América with large armies undergoing intensive training with the avowed purpose of appearing in Europe within a few months; an America equipped with transports to handle these troops and their attendant supplies quickly and continuously; an America in which the government, business men, laborers, every resource, financial and physical, is waging a whole-hearted cam- paign with but dne common inspiration—to win the war, no matter how long it may be and what sacri- fices it entails. A Clear Program is Needed England and France had to learn their lessons from the very beginning. We are fortunately able to draw upon their experiences for guidance in avoiding proved mistakes. To increase output, England de- pended first upon private initiative, then upon reluct- ant government aid and finally upon practically com- plete state control. A clear outline from Washington of what is needed, a clear understanding upon the part’ of the people, including both the business man and the worker, of these needs will avoid the necessity of the two latter steps. Private initiative, if given a wise program to which the country can rally, will sur- mount any emergency. - Germany added one hundred million new enemies not because furor Teutonicus blinded her to their might, but because she doubted whether that might Government, labor and business must show her how fatal that mistake is. The country has received satisfactory assurances from the last two. It expects, and if necessary will exact, similar results from its congressmen and the heads of departments. SEES OOS SST SENSO SD RS Saye SEL La AE Me eT ae Eee Se END ae eae eee aE