Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1917 — SECRETARY BAKER ROUTS WAR GLOOM [ARTICLE]

SECRETARY BAKER ROUTS WAR GLOOM

Says There’s Every Reason to Be Confident of the Outcome. HAS FAITH IN THE RUSS Declares Spasmodic Political Convulsions Arej|D Be Expected, But That the Russians Will Abandon the Field Is Unbelievable. Washington, July 27. —Commenting on the generally pessimistic tone of war news, Secretary of War Baker said : “The arrangement made by the British and French on the western front, together with the splendid progress by the American troops abroad, affords a basis for an entirely different attitude ’than that expressed in the gloomy stories published today. There is every reason to be hopeful and confident of the outcome.” The pessimism which has marked the news reports on the progress of the war for the last few da/s also was likened in high official circles to the psychology of a political campaign. “We may expect our’ups and downs in war as in polities,” said another close Adviser of the president, “but that no excuse for a panic or for the wave of pessimism which seems to have swept over the country in the last three days. “I do not wish to minimize the seriousness of the situation, for war is a serious’business. The government has made due allowances for discouraging developments, which must be expected from time to time, but sight must not be lost of good features.”

' Official Views of Situation. Officials here regard tire disaster to the Russians in Galicia, the continuing losses through submarines, the necessity for large appropriations and the general attitude of congress toward the problems of this government as contributing factors to the pessimistic trend of the news. On these points answers were found in official circles as folows: The allies, have by no means lost faith in Russia. That Russia would have” spasmodic political convulsions has been expected, but that Russia will abandon the field is not believed. On the contrary, it is expected Russia will gather herself again and again keep the central powers busy on the eastern front until the end of the war. Military men hold that it makes little difference where the Russians fight, geographically, so long as-they fight, and this they believe they will do. Submarine losses are continuing in about the same average as usual. The gloom cast upon this phase of the war by the differences of opinion as to the policy of, this government has been ended and it is expected that shipbuilding will proceed under the new management of Admiral Capps and E<t ward N. Hurley faster than was originally planned. Meanwhile the allies' are making definite plans for an offensive against the submarine menace which soon may make activities at sea as important as t'he battles on land. Tied up with the submarine menace is the question of food and supplies for the armies in Europe. The government considers the food problem on the road to solution and believes the shipping problem will be met adequately. Secretary Baker has denied newspaper rtfports that officers returning from the front have brought word that the German eastern front cannot be broken and that it will remain in deadlock to the end of the war. It was this report which contributed largely to the pessimistic view. Congress’ Stand Is Criticized.

Speaking purely from a domestic point of view, the general attitude of congress toward the big problem of the war is the subject of much criticism. The lack of leadership in both houses of congress whenever the president takes his hand off the throttle never was so manifest in this congress as now. Starting with a burst of nonpartisan patriotism, congress passed the declaration of war resolution and the Republicans more than the Democrats contributed nobly’ to the passage of the draft act. The first big loan of $7,4'00,000.000 likewise was enacted quickly. Since then congress has ceased the constructive and has developed a nagging, faultfinding attitude of mind which eventually may make trouble. The attempt on the part of the Republicans in the house to hold up the food-confroi bill until certain agreements could be made relative to the attitude of the house conferees on senate amendments, was the nearest approach to partisanship manifested and indicated . even in _its failure, the growth of an unhealthy atmosphere In congressional quarters. Both the revenue and food bills brought to Washington the biggest lobbies seen in the capitol city. ?