The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-26
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 2e, 1877.
GRANTS SYSTEM.

The English and French successes are creating
In many of our citizens the idea that the is
nearly over and that month OF fight
ing viii bring about total collapse of the German
defense. Military experts in the east not
confident; in fact they believe that it will be at
least year before the effects Of the continuous
pounding will be manifest
The New York Tribune makes a comparison be-
tween the present campaign of the allies and that
of Grant in 1864 which broke the back of the con-
federacy though Its armies indicated.
Victory in that instance had been won long before
the surrender and the results Of the present cam
raign may not be until some time after its
conclusion.
The primary object Of the allied armies is not SO
much to pierce the Hndenburg line 1t is to break
German resistance at any point where decided
stand is made. The great number of and
guns captured by the allies during the first days
of the Arras offensive was the greatest disaster
which has befacn the German army in the present
Prior to the battle of the Marine such hap
penng would have been deemed impossible and the
mere fact that it did tells its tale re-
garding the lowering of morale and the breaking
down of German organization.
-
The present offensive of IT,, allies differs from
similar efforts in the past in that at other times
the forward movement has been taken by ncccs-
sity. There always some point which dc
,nanded relief and the convenience preparedness
Of the allied armies could not be consulted Last
years offensive on the Sommc undertaken be-
cause vcrlun was seriously threatened. Today,
taking their own time before launching each
cecdng attack. Captured terrain is consolidated,
ammunition guns and men all carefully pro-
vided before the next step is taken In the past
the greatest losses of after what APP
pearcd to be decisive Victories The armies have
learned their lessons from that and now thorough
preparation is preceding each attack. Only a small
of ground yielded by the Germans in the
Somme battle, yet it nccessitatcd a 2o'nlc re-
treat. The real effect of tho Arras battle may not,
he manifest until ncxt spring.
The big effect OF the $1,000 prisoners and 400
guns which were surrendered by the Germans
within 10 days after the beginning Of the present
battle will be on the morale of the German troops.
They realize that the German army is not in
>incble; that their generals are not infahblc and
that the enemy is real fighting machine and
not to bc held in contempt. Napoleon's victories
at Jena and Aucrstadt meant the downfall OF the
military organization Of Frederick the Great and a
decisive victory at ArAs might produce the same
result If such event occurs, however. it will
be on account OF the chb in fighting spirit. Ger
many has millions OF soldiers enormous reserves
Of ammunition and guns. From this standpoint
immediate collapse Is to Toe iorcscen.
Military point to the Civil and predict
that s the backbone of tho confcdcracy broken
in 1864, Gcrmanys resistance may continue fol
indefinite period after real criority has been
established by the allies.