Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1917 — U. S. MUST HURL ITS FULL POWER [ARTICLE]

U. S. MUST HURL ITS FULL POWER

If Germany Is to Be Defeated, Asserts Capt. Henry J. Reilly, Recently Returned from Europe.

By Capt. Henry J. Railly. New York, May 13.—1 t is a great mistake to think the Germans are on the verge of collapsing and that all that is needed is a slight additional effort ' ... The tendency of the public of eacn country which has entered the war has been to make the mistake of adding up square miles, the populations, and tons of food and other supplies of the two sides. The balance on the side of the entente allies is so great as to give the impression of overwhelming power. This causes an underestimation of the problem as it really exists, as it creates a false confidence not justified by the facts. The whole course of this war has shown that everything is subordinate to armies actually in the field and that decisive victory can come only through them. The question of sea power is simply one of the ability, first, to deprive the enemy of the power to move his troops by sea; second, to cut him off from all overseas supplies; third, to keep the seas open for the transport of allied troops to the points needed and ih the numbers needed; and fourth, to keep the allied arms supplied. In the first case the central powers are not affected, except that they cannot attempt an invasion of England becaues all. their fronts are joined by overland communications. In the second case, while the enemy has been deprived of many things, there is every evidence that he has sufficient material to keep his armies fighting with the utmost determination. It is evident that Germany has the power to defend herself for some time to come, unless the allied armies in the field can be swelled to such an enormous strength in men and so well supplied with material that a crushing offensive can be commenced and relentlessly continued without a pause until the enemy armies are completely defeated.