of Belgium and France, the return of Alsace-Lorraine, etc., in the West and the surrender of the Colonies—­provided Austria is not dismembered.  That would virtually leave them the chance to work out their Middle Europe scheme and ultimately there’d probably have to be another war over that question.  That’s the real eventuality to be feared—­a German defeat in the West but a German victory in the Southeast.  Everybody in Europe is so war weary that such a plan may succeed.

On the other hand, what Hoover and Northcliffe fear may come true—­that the Germans are going to keep up the struggle for years—­till their armies are practically obliterated, as Lee’s army was.  If the Allies were actually to kill (not merely wound, but actually kill) 5,000 Germans a day for 300 days a year, it would take about four years to obliterate the whole German Army.  There is the bare possibility, therefore, of a long struggle yet.  But I can’t believe it.  My dominant mood these days is an end within a very few months after the submarines are knocked out.  Send over, therefore, 1,000 improvised destroyers the next two months, and I’ll promise peace by Christmas.  Otherwise I can make no promises.  That’s all that Lord Grey and I know, and surely we are two wise men.  What, therefore, is the use in writing any more about this?

The chief necessity that grows upon me is that all the facts must be brought out that show the kinship in blood and ideals of the two great English-speaking nations.  We were actually coming to believe ourselves that we were part German and Slovene and Pole and What-not, instead of essentially being Scotch and English.  Hence the unspeakable impudence of your German who spoke of eliminating the Anglo-Saxon element from American life!  The truth should be forcibly and convincingly told and repeated to the end of the chapter, and our national life should proceed on its natural historic lines, with its proper historic outlook and background.  We can do something to bring this about.

     Affectionately,

     W.H.P.

The labour of getting the American Navy into the war was evidently at first a difficult one, but the determination of Page and Admiral Sims triumphed, and, by August and September, our energies were fully engaged.  And the American Navy made a record that will stand everlastingly to its glory.  Without its help the German submarines could never have been overcome.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 58:  The reference is to the attack made in October, 1916, by the German Submarine U-53, off Nantucket on several British ships.  An erroneous newspaper account said that the Benham, an American destroyer, had moved in a way that facilitated the operations of the German submarine.  This caused great bitterness in England, until Page showed the Admiralty a report from the Navy Department proving that the story was false.]