A Kind Word for Uncle Sam

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7210, 17 July 1933, Page 5

A Kind Word for Uncle Sam

(To the Editor.) Sir, —My previous letter showed the straits to . which the universal submarine campaign brought the Allies. It was a trying and a terrible time, and following upon Jutland caused great concern. It is not too much to say that through all the failures and disappointments of the war tho British ]jad quietly and confidently hoped for a meeting of tho German and British navies, and had anticipated a smashing victory. “There was one groat, action. Bor tho first and last time tho fleets clashed. Von Scheer had 10 Dreadnoughts and six older ships; Jellicoe, the far superior forco of 28 Dreadnoughts and a yet greater advan-tage-in gun power. . . . Though the Kaiser’s fleet was more heavily damaged than appeared at tho time, the British losses in ships and men were the heavier. This was no Trafalgar and Jcllicoe was not a Nelson. . . . The disappointment of tho Britisn nation and of tho navy itself was deep and just. . . ’ (J. D. Garvin, “History of Our Own Times.”) Tho military situation was tragic. “Russia's casualties numbered 4,000,000. There was in the air a sense of some coming catastrophe that no man might say.” (Ibid.) But in tho west hope was at the zenith. • Nevellc’sown attach, so long expected, had opened on a 50-mile front. ... All Branco hung breathless on tho result. Nevclle had°staked his all upon the attempt to shatter in a few days a chain of terrible positions. By comparison with the ambition the failure was disastrous.

. . Paris was in consternation. . . . The German losses were heavy; those of the Brencb appalling. In the first ten days their casualties were 100,000 (not counting slightly wounded), and a third of these were dead. Nevellewas dismissed ... this disillusionment nearly broke the heart of the Trench Army . . . grave mutinies broke out. Bor some weeks the situation was more serious than tho other Allies were allowed to know (Ibid). As if this was not enough, further disaster followed, for Russia, so huge outwardly, swaying like a drunken giant, collapsed in the 'field and disappeared as an ally. Bor Trance, Italy, Britain, the supreme peril, military, naval and political, was at last in sight.” (Garvin.) "The year 1916 closed in gloom for tho Allies. The simultaneous offensive on all fronts planned a year before bad misfired and the Trench Army was at a low ebb; the Russian still lower; the Somme had failed . . . and another fresh ally had been overrun. At sea the negativeness of Jutland was a disappointment . . . and a stronger submarine campaign was threatened. The collapse of Russia was a loss that America’s entry could not compensate for many months, and before tbe balance was restored the western Allies were to be perilously near the brink of defeat. The defection of Russia did not end the Allies’ tale of woe. “Each autumn with demoralising regularity Germany had seized an opportunity to eat up one of the weaker Allies. In 1915 it was Serbia’s fate; in 1916, Roumania’s, and now it was Italy’s, so the Germans intended.” (Eneyc. Brit.) The Italian army was smashed and routed at Caporctto. The Germans captured 250,000 prisoners and infleted twice as many other casualties. “On October 24 Von Belou broke through at Caporetto and the Invaders poured through, widening the breach. Within the next few days the Italian Second Army was swept away in indescribable rout. The Third Army was retreating for very life. No disaster so sudden and complete had overtaken any ally. All the gains of two and a-half years woro gone, and Italy was invaded like Trance before the Marne. Tor three years the Allies had begun every year with hope and ended it with gloom. They had now experienced cumulative disaster, only relieved by America’s intervention.’ (J. L. Garvin, “History of Our Own Times.”) The terrific toll of casualties was undermining all the fighting powers. Reserves were urgently needed if a victory great enough to win the war was ever to be gained; but reserves were becoming unattainable. Germany had called up her limit men, ages 15 and 60 years. The Trench were bleeding white and England was strained to the limit. America’s entry opened up unlimited numbers of fresh fighting material for the Allies and sounded the end of German hopes. The question was: Would the Americans be in time 1 ? If not, Allied victory was impossible; the most that could bo expected was an arranged peace. History will show that America was in time and that by efforts that were near-miraculous she gave such colossal aid to the Allies as saved them, and saved tho world. Just what that aid was, I will show In my next letetr, when I trust I shall bo able to give such facts as will enable your Tenders to assess at its true value Mr Watson's statement that “the part played by the American forces didn’t amount to a circumstance.” —I am, etc., OLD GLORY.