Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-28
Editorial Comment
The Hand of Fate
Lewiston JournaD


| There are certain signs by which
the collapse of any nation engaged
| in war may be forecasted. When Ger
man prisoners are taken whose age
Goes not exceed fifteen years it is ex-
cellent proof that the Teuton strength
is rapidly waning. No longer are the
! German attacks made with that ire
n.endous force which characterized
them in the beginning OF the present
| struggle. Today the British and
French forces on the western front
outnumber the enemy fully two to one.
| while in heavy artillery and air craft
the disparity is still greater. In every
| branch of the service this superiority
| may be seen and the results are COR
respondingly marked. 1t Is the allies
| in almost every case that make the
gains, and with precision as sure as
it is memorable their great armies are
encircling and closing in upon the foe.
No longer does the German govern
| ment send out its rose colored dis
patches Of victory. but rather seeks to
| find reasons for its defeats. The arm
| les of Gen. Haig and Petain seem to
have adopted a system of advance that
oonserves as far as possible their man
the work previously executed by men
in battle line. Not until system Of
trenches has been battered and
smashed into a shapeless mass of
! wreckage are the men ordered to
charge and by that time there is but
! little left to resist. This has been the
history of the war since the battle of
the Sonme, and bids fair to continue
To mr. ic
though It be bit slower and less spec
tacular than a brilliant charge.
Equally certain Is the fact that the
economic strength Of Germany is near
ing the end. Already burdened with
debt that is appalling, she has no
wealthy nation to which she can turn
for relief Five years ago the total
wealth Of Germany was computed by
| Hefferich to be $4,000, ooo. 600, but eince
the present war began one-half of this
has been dissipated. No longer can
she borrow money from outside ma
tons, for these are against her. The
resources Of her own people are prac-
tically exhausted and the last Of her
silver spoons have been melted down.
The last of her available resources is
bluff, and even this is dangerously
best and bravest men beneath the SOD,
her colonies gone and her school chill
oren now being forced into the ranks
as food for British guns. the prospect
before this nation Of bullies is any
thing but cheering. Dark and gloomy
the clouds of despair are settling
around her and the end cannot be far
distant.
ic rrIt II
mics? France and italy have been
! weakened but are far from exhaus-
ton. The strength of Britain has not
even vet reached its maximum Of
power. With an inexhaustible supply
Of men from her farflung colonies,
she is gaining in strength with the
prolongation Of the war. Day by day
her grip upon the throat Of Germany
is Tightening. Her wealth in money
and material has shown but little de-
crease and today she has the United
States upon which to lean. As COM
pared with Germany her lines have
been cast in pleasant spots.
Our own country is only beginning.
Inexhaustible in wealth and material.
Ter part in the great struggle will
grow with each passing day. The
American people have at last grasped
the full meaning Of the war in which
they are engaged. Full we'll they know
| that It is the survival of democracy or
its death It is the last great struggle
between despotism and liberty and
they have no fear Of the result. AL
ready the death damp is gathering on
| the Hohenzollern brow and wildly the
German leaders are seeking a peace
that viii leave them sembiance of
military power upon which to build for
future and greater struggle. Too
late. Ruling by divine power Is an
anomaly that must and will go down
| If necessary In a sea Of blood in order
that peace may henceforth rule in the
councils Of men. 1t is the hand of fate
directing the blow that soon will fall