GREAT WAR TACTICS.

Evening Star, Issue 22458, 1 October 1936, Page 13

GREAT WAR TACTICS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—You mention in your editorial that two problems faced British statesmen at the time of American intervention in the Great War. _ The first was, of coarse, financial. It is not generally known, perhaps, that, according to the ‘ New Age ‘ of December 12 last, “ at a certain juncture in the war the bankers of the Allied and central Powers assembled in Zurich to decide when to call it off, as a growing menace to the stability of the money monopoly.” While on this financial aspect of the war it should be recalled that the financial difficulties of the British Government were a shortage of money on the part of a Government which had pledged the credit of the nation in August, 1914, to save the bankrupt banking monopoly from complete collapse. Having done that, it was apparently regarded as sane and fair to the people of the nation that it should thenceforth borrow all money from the same source and so place ourselves and our descendants under a tremendous debt to the money monopoly. Naturally, the big banking houses of America had a large share of the spoil. The second problem facing British statesmanship was the German submarine campaign. The legality of this German weapon is called into question, so it would be as well to remember that the v use of the German submarine was inspired by the inhuman and quite “ illegal ” use of the naval blockade by the British Government. It was only put into operation by Germany after repeated protests against the British blockade of foodstuffs to civilian Germans were refused satisfaction. Also, it should be the constant care of all who would defend British motives and actions in connection with the late war to avoid all mention of the blockade of Germany. To the undying shame of our nation we not only instituted an inhuman and illegal form of blockade against Germany but we maintained it for six months after the war finished. With the ability to feed the German population greatly restricted by the wholesale confiscation of stock and financial restrictions, the might of the British Navy was used to starve women and children to a point where even the British troops in occupied Germany threatened mutiny if tood was not given German women and children. Of course, there was grim purpose behind this policy of the Allies. It was only a starved and emaciated Germany destitute of arms and spirit which would sign the infamous “Peace ” treaty being prepared. The result is now to be seen in a rejuvenated Germany, intent on the rectification of the wrongs done her Let us, at least, not advance subtle definitions of “legality” into the discussion. As people residing in edifices of very crystalline construction projection of missiles will have a disastrous effect —to ourselves. —I am, etc., Advance. September 30.