Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-12
VICTORY OR GEHENNA!

HE treason Of the Bolsheviki is bring
8 Ting the war beforetime to it's Gettys-
0>Ii1rR. The released legions of the east are
Delng driven to the battle lines of Italy and
ohe west for one vast. titanic onslaught.
1ushed with political victory over Russia
411 convinced that 1t is now or never for
~ Hohenzollerps the Kaiser obviously in
@1nds to take, opportunity by the forelock
|6od strive to work his will before the
&NAerican armies are In condition to take
~ stand We are about, It seems, to wit
Gess the crisis Of the war. the supreme at
X x<slnpt Of the Huns to wrench victory from
G,sester and achieve now tho triumph
4, which they missed at the Marine.
Ii Il Il not necessary to discuss the Bolshe-
viki. With Russia faithful the war would
~ over now. In their mad pursuit Of a
Utopia Lenine and his fellow fanatics have
fbeen willing to sacrifice the world pusil-
y Ahimity has ever a catch phrase for par
1on on its lips, but for the carnival Of
treachery and betrayal in which Russia
has INDUCED herself there can never be
/; pardon or excuse Yet the people Of this
country can thank God that evidences OF
}the approaching crime wero apparent early
enough to afford this nation an oppor-
t}unity to transport some of its forces to the
mont and train them. Whilo the German
pfdss has been sridiculing American par.
ffcipation in the war. long lines Of trans.
pprts have been sedulousy at work. Where
4 1l1o Kaiser expected no more than an
xnerican corps Of ambulance workers. he
neWs at last that there are in France
1>blooded American soldiers by the thou
q (luds, trained to the minute, as desperate
~ ldefense of democracy as he is in de.
Snbe Of autocracy, and he will be shovel
fnx coal In Gehenna before his armies are
hble to drive through that host.
zF There have been frequent Armageddons
the last three years. each fiercer than
sone before it. but the Armageddon OF.
fnaseddons is yet to come. Not on the
"a A]sui dSioii, put III tHc tItHCLtS
y 1Fom Switzerland to the sea, is tho Kaiser
Uteparing for II and by the graciousness
z o< Heaven Americans will take part in 1t.
y The public must be prepared. however
}Ipr anxious days and nights. We have no
$eubt Of the ultimate outcome, but victory
~ likely to shift first one way and then
<|LL-xl- srt.o =
I'M the Germans have brought together
3 Ennnot be stopped dead short. There must
& ~ oarly gains and some advances. But IL
~ drive fails In its great objective. If the
INNS cannot break through when only a
NJ Of the American armies are available,
means that the last chance for victory
vanished and that defeat is as certain
jt was for the Copfederacy when Lee
4sd his back on Gettysburg and began
> retreat to Virginia. The time is near,
~. when the faith Of the nation will be
>od. and the faith Of the whole civilized
pr1d, for every augury is that we arc
o6rt' to face the supreme test.
&tlS not usual 10 nave campaign of
y Character in the winter. but 1t is the
oiser's last hope. He cannot tell when
|<E&1 Bolsheviki Government will fall. Ills
81 Jorts are at last accurate. moro or less.
~ the extent of American participation.
- at the maximum oe his possible
nth while new life is pouring into tho
camps from this hemisphere. In
circumstances. the U-boat is not the
argument Of kings" but great blow
- before this nation can make ready
4ese are the reasons for the projected
I've and they are good reasons. But
xtoo late. Kerensky held on long
% give us chance to help. But
~ has nsyer seen so titanic a strug
4 Is likely to witness in the near