WHY THE ALLIES WILL WIN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15498, 27 January 1916, Page 3

WHY THE ALLIES WILL WIN.

SHELLS TO BURN AND MEN TO BURN THEM. The London correspondent of the '"New York Herald"' sent a cheering message to his paper on December 11th. "I am now absolutely certain we ■will win this war," was the naively neutral declaration of Colonel George Harvey, editor of the "North American Review." when I saw him at Claridge's last evening as he was preparj ing to leave London for America on | board the Rotterdam on Monday. He is going after a sojourn, during which I he saw not only Cabinet Ministers and heard at first hand their opinions on the outcome of the great struggle, but personally inspected the reserves—an immense army of 4,000,000 men, which still is in the making—and the wonderful development of the great Department of Munitions, which controls more than two thousand five hundred factories, employing more than a million men and women, and has transformed, as if by magic, the balance of shell power, which a year ago was three to one in fav~ - ir of tho Germans, to a ratio of five lo one in favour ot the Allies. "Why are you so confident that victory will be with the Allies?" I asked, and Colonel Harvey replied: "Before' I left tho United .States I agreed with a Columbia professor who said preponderant power in men and money was bound to tell in the end; but now T. have a stronger argument— one which fell from the lips of a- recruiting sergeant in the Strand yesterday. "Don't you want to be on the winning side?"' said the soldier to a group of civilians whom be was suggesting should don khaki. " 'How do you know ours will be the winning side I -1 ' asked a prospective recruit. SURE I-Y WILL TRIUMPH. " 'Well,, niv lad. : said the sergeant, 'you know the Germans have been trying for more than a year and a half to win and have failed, don't you i'' " 'Yes.' replied the questioner. 'Well, ■ then, -we've been trying to lose during the same period, and we couldn't.' "Knowing what I do now of the improved situation in men money, and munitions." said Colonel Harvey, "I consider the sergeant's logic unanswerable. Don't make any mistake. AVitli shells to burn, and the finest body of soldiers in the world to do the burning, there is no chance of u German victory. The Allies may be forced to fight for two years more. Reali.v I think they will fight perhaps longer. But they surely will triumph." "lb has been intimated that what Britain needs to ensure victory." T ventured., "is if strong. dominating personality to dictate the conduct of the war." "That is absurd," said tho Colonel. "There is no. such personage in tho world to-dav. No Cromwells. no Napoleons. What applies to war also applies to science, literature - and politics. There is no such outstanding personality alive. Therefore the military, economic, and governmental affairs must continue to be administered by trroups of able men. ' "'[lie Kaiser is the nearest approach to a dominating .personality in this war. Not because he is a superman. He isn't. But simply because he is practically an absolute monarch, the head of the house of Hohenzollern, and he has achieved only Pyrrhic victories. "What did you think of Dr. yon Bethmaun-Hollwcg's speech?" I Uisketl. "Bluff!" - was the sententious reply. "But, mark you. I hove no sympathy with the absurd doctrine that Germany can bo starved into surrender. If that is the hope of any of t-lie Allied Powers, it should be dismissed at once. Germany would be able to livo on her own resources for ten years. She must ho whipped thoroughly. but whipped from the outside; and it is because T know the _Entente Powers arc inflexibly determined to give her the- thrashing which she has earned by her inhuman methods of warfare that I am certain the Allies will win. NO RESENTMENT AGATNST j AMERICAN PEOPLE. • I "I have hesitated hitherto to say | anything here for publication," said Colonel Harvey, "foj- two reasons. I do not like to seem presumptuous, and I do not like to be censored. But I will .say, before returning to the land i of the free and the home of the proud, that, whatever may be the attitude of |

tJie British towards President Wilson, which I prudently refrain from depicting. there is not one particle of resentment against the American people. That, to my mind, is the most vital of facts. I can conceive of. no outcome, of this Avar more deplorable •than an estrangement of the two great segments of our race. But I know now this cannot _ eventuate. The instinct of British 'democracy is as true and sure as it Avas during our Civil war, when the people and their Queen withstood- the aristocracy. Thev know where we stand to-dny. Their confidence cannot be shaken/' Colonel Harvey closed, with a tribute to Mr David Lloyd George, who, he said, is showing a marvellous grasp of affairs and has developed into a statesman of the first magnitude. I "I suppose you read that the Democratic National Committee has recommended President Wilson for renomination?" I said. "Yes," replied the .Colonel, "and if thp wa** lasts a year he will have a chance." The Colonel significantly emphasised th" word "chance." Lieutenant Thompson, the Colonel's son-in-law,, who returned with him in order to enjoy Christmas at home, sai.;i: "My blood tinrclcd when I inspected the camps and saw what snlendid material there is in Lord Kitchener's new armies. As an army officer I cannot take sides, but I can't help admiring first-class fighting-men."