Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-12
PREACHER From Trenches"
Noted English Divine, to
Speak Here Under Auspices
of Liberty Bond Committee

Germany is whipped. But it is i'm.
possible to tell how long the war will
last. That depends on three things:
The resistance Russia continues to Of
fer, the success of the U-boat cam
paign. and the aid America gives"
This is an opinion from the trenches,
brought to Atlanta by DR.. John KEEL
man, of Edinburg, Scotland, who spent
two months this winter with the Brit
ishs at Ypres where Sir Douglas Haig
is now battering the German lines.
DR.. Kelman. who is pastor of St.
Georges United Free church. of Edin-
burg, arrived Saturday afternoon to
speak this morning at IL o'clock at
the North Avenue Presbyterian church
and this afternoon at 3:45 o'clock at the
auditorium, where he will appear under
the auspices of the central committee
in charge of the Liberty Loan bond
compaign. Following his speech at the
auditorium. he will hold vesper services
at Fort Mcpherson.
No charge for admission will be made
at Dr. Kelman's address at the au-
ditorium, and no subscriptions will be
"A. "A.
requests that Boy Scout troops report
at the auditorium at o'clock to act
as ushers
THE allies are absolutely sure of
victory" DR.. Kelman continued, but
Americas entrance makes this assur-
ance doubly sure, and hastens the end
of the war.
at is idle, however, to say when the
final thrust will be made and peace
declared. That is like predicting the
end of the world. 30 one can pos
sibly set the time in days, months or
years.
ALLIES BETTER FIGHTERS.
"But I will say this, that the allies
are superior now in heavy guns; are
better figuters, man for man, than the
Germans; and are hitting terrific blows
that may find a weak spot any day
in the German lines and smash way
through.
ct am not predicting an Immediate
break in the Hindenburg forces. But
1 am saying II is possible that Cen
eral Haig will break through and that
the Germans slow retreat will be turn
ed into a rout.
ri spent two months at Ypres, on the
very ground where the British are now
advancing. 1 lived in the huts of the
soldiers and in the trenches 1 came
to know them intimately. And from
my knowledge of their courage. their
equipment, their leadership. 1 see no
reason why the allies should not smash
the German front and throw the Ger
man forces into confusion.
but while we are confident and have
the superiority now in men and guns,
# rests with America to hasten peace
al fIpn Ia
support in men, money, ships and mu-
nitions.
my message to the American people
is this: The war will be won. There
is no doubt of that. The Germans will
be beaten. But the sooner America Is
in the field. the sooner peace will be
declared"
KNOWS GROUND WELL.
DIR. Kelman was given the opportu-
nifty this winter to go to the front as
a Y: NJ. c. A worker and, after land
ing in France, spent the first few weeks
at the base camps along the front.
Later he was in the front lines near
Ypres where he knows every foot Of the
ground over which the bitterest fight
ing of the war is in progress.
In January he returned to England.
and in Mrach sailed for America. His
purpose was 10 lnCTcdSS inc LCCAAiS VI
fellowship between the American and
the English people. He wished to bring
across the seas a picture OF the war
that is being waged for democracy, and
make plain what the world conflict
means.
In carrying out that mission he has
since spoken in many American cities,
meeting always with quick sympathy
and response. and now is in Atlanta
to continue his work in behalf of In
ternational fellowship.
There is no danger of England be-
ing starved" he went on. THE Ger
mans undertook an impossible task
when they attempted to blockade the
British coast In spite of all their
ruthlessness they have sunk only one
per cent of our shipping, while we have
cut off seventy-five per cent of their
imports But 1 know no more than you
do of what measures are being taken
to suppress the U-boats.
zone thing, however, l do know is
the character of the fighting now at
Ypres. / was right where the big push
is being made. and the ground is just
as familiar to me as my own back
yard.
81 was particularly interested in the
mines exploded under the German po-
sitions. Do you know how that was
done? Simply by sapping-by digging