Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-18
Three i-OlLieS to ApOid.


Careless optimists, near-sighted pessimists
and faint-hearted persons with a paciist leaning
should chew and digest these meaty lines from
Premier Lloyd Georges latest comment the
situation
at would be folly to underestimate the
danger from the release of the enemys east
ern forces. 1t would equally be folly to
aggerate it; but the greatest folly of all would
be not to face it."
There is no blinking the fact that in some
respects the Allied cause is at the most crucial
stage it has seen while the German position in
some respects is more favorable than it has been
since the battle of the Marine Russias fasco en-
abes the Teutons to strip their lines from the Bal
tic to the Black Sea of all but a skeleton guard,
and to great increments of men and guns on
the Italian and the Western front. Thus they can
undertake fresh and formidable offensive before
American resources get fairly into the conflict;
they strike another blow at war-worn France;
they reinforce their diplomatic drive for an
inconcusive peace, which is really their chief OBJ
jective The sooner we of the United States realize
the urgent responsibilities which these conditions
lay upon the better it will be for the vital inter-
ests We have at stake. Not to realize them and
not to act with the utmost speed and power would
prove tragically foolish.
avoid the mistake of magnifying the enemy's
strength to the point of weakening own spirit.
That would be playing the Kaiser's game which is
obviously to depress the Allied peoples that he
can nveigle them into German-made peace.
There is ground for panic" says Premier Lloyd
George regarding the situation on the Western
front; and he speaks advisedly, may be
Even now, after we have sent troops to
Italy" he adds, "the Allies have marked
superiority in numbers in France and Elan
ders and considerable reserves at home
Much greater progress has been made in man
power in the last few months than either
friends foes realize, although it
is not enough to enable us to face the new
contingent without anxiety. The
German victories have been blazoned to the
world, but her troubles did not appear in the
bulletins. However, know something of
them. The deadly grip of the British navy,
and the valor of the troops is making i'm
preston which will tell in the end. If the
Russian democracy has decided to abandon
the struggle against autocracy, the American
democracy is taking it. up. This is the most
momentous fact of the year. There is
more powerful nation in the world than the
United States with its gigantic resources and
indomtable people. If Russia is out Amer
lea is coming in with both arms
These larger factors-the Allies superiority in
man power and Americas vast of
strength-will ultimately control and decide the
issue, if the fight goes to finish. Such ad-
vantage Germany now has cannot last beyond
the time when the major forces of the United
States fully in action. No one realizes that
more keenly than the Hohenzollerns themselves,
and accounts for their desperate efforts to end
the war before America can fairly begin it.
Whatever may be the perils and reverses of
the months ahead-and doubtless there will be
times to try the nations soul-the only attitude
worthy of the American character is to face them
with steady nerves and with unbending resolution
to fight on until just and durable peace is
achieved. Let us recognize fully that our foes
the most powerful we'll the most brutal
ganization of miltarists the world has known,
and prepare accordingly. But let not be de-
ceived into thinking that they nation of in
invincibles or that an adhesive victory
never be There must be adhesive vic
tory if American shores to remain secure, and
there will be if the American spirit remains
it was in the beginning, is now and shall be-