The Washington times., 1916-07-31
TOUT OF THE TRENCHES 4"


The ardor Of certain quixotic
pacifists failed, not very surpris-
ingly, to get the soldiers out Of the
trenches by last Christmas. The
pacifists are likely to see their eff
forts bring no results even by an
other Christmas; but that which ser
mons could not do, shrapnel is doing;
where peace talk failed, powder Is
succeeding.
From the Somme front in France,
a correspondent relates that on a
considerable sector the Germans
have now been driven out Of their
third line Of trenches, and that the
fighting Is now to a considerable ex-
tent being carried on in the open
country. Of course, no army at
tempts literally to fight in the open
nowadays. 1t digs in with picks and
shovels, fingernails and toes, just as
quickly as it finds itself exposed.
But the fact stands that the elab-
orately prepared trenches, protected
by barbed wire entanglements,
walled with concrete, organized in
labyrinthine fashion, fitted with
marvellous paraphernalia for safety
and comfort, are being made use
less. The British and French are
now consolidating the trench posi-
tions taken from their enemy, max
ing them face toward the north in
stead of the south, and preparing to
utilize them as the basis of further
advance.
So at last there is prospect that
the war in the west will become more
and more like that in the east, where
because of rapid movements and the
vast mileage Of lines it has never
been possible to prepare such elab-
crate field defenses as have been
used in the west.
Once out Of the bitches and into
the open, it may be assumed that the
movement of things will be faster.
The superior numbers of the French,
British, colonial, and Russian forces
in the west-there is no longer doubt
Of this superiority-will tell as
numerical superiority has never told
since the earliest weeks Of the war.
when the overpowering Germans
were crushing their way toward
Paris.
Now, out Of the trenches once
more, the weight of numbers and
metal is on the other side. The
initiative has swung to the allies.
From Liege to the Marine the world
was given a demonstration of what
more men, more guns, more readi-
ness, more experience and skill
could accomplish. The boot is on
the other leg. Is it possible that
Joffre and Kitchener, when they
planned the great performance that
is now forcing the war out into the
open country once more, planned also
for another grand push that should
roll the invaders out Of the conquered
territory as fast as, two years ago
they inundated it?
The allied artillery in the west, we
are told, is now using two shells to
the Germans one. That disparity IL
altogether likely to increase as time
passes. The greatest Of all ad'
vantages that the allies possess
greater even than their superiority
in numbers of men available to beal
arms, is in commanding the machine
shops of the world. They have or.
ganized that advantage as com
pletely as the others; probably ever
more completely.
The next few weeks should tell the
story Of how the war shall go from
this time to it's end. If the allies
are able to get the jump on theil
enemy, they. must keep him moving
regardless of weather or any othel
consideration. 1t must be presumed
that they will permit no winter-timt
respite, in which the Germans may
dig themselves once more into ada
mantine trenches for new stand II
the spring. Rather. taking advan
tage of their better supplies Of warn
clothing, sustaining food, and sup
plies of all kinds, they must pres
right ahead regardless Of any diff
culties or discomforts, always mind
full that their own difficulties and dis
comforts in a winter campaign will
be yet less than those Of thei
enemy.
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