Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-27
The British Arrive.

Those half-hearted Americans and thnly dis
guised pro-Germans whose pastime it has been to
pick on the British will nnd in the recent events
between Arras and st. Quentin particularly pungent
food for reflection. The British. told by
those who looked through spectacles OF prejudice
Prussiansm. were nation of slow-going mud
diers, concerned. chiefly with their commercial
stake in the war and leaving to others the burden
and heat OF the actual fight. Even after the United
States entered the lists and made common cause
with the Allies there was persistent effort on the
part of yellow journalists in this country to beget
distrust and antipathy toward England These
scribes, whose methods strongly suggest the Phar-
isee as we'll. could not praise France without
slurring her great ally across the Channel could
not profess that they were pro-American without
adding in louder tone that they anti-British
could not view any phase of the war except from
this strangely pre1udiced point of view.
Whatever others may think OF Britains fight
ing-will and hghting-power, the Germans have come
to an entirely different opinion from that which
they held in the late summer OF 1914. Even be-
fore that summer had ripened fully into autumn
they had learned much OF "the contemplate little
British army" and they have gone on learning
ever since. The recent victory between Arras and
ST. Quentin Is but climax In the slowly rising
patiently planned work of British preparation. The
same resolute spirit the same matter-of-fact hero
ism was present along all the dark miles OF the re-
treat through Flanders three years ago, The diff
ference is that now we see Britain prepared, and
accordingly see the supercilious pride of the
Huns crumbling beneath "the tanks"
Whatever the immediate consequences of the
battle of Cambria if it is to be called, fact
looms clear: the Hindenburg line has been pierced
xad he stem Of
trench Notifications frequently has been, but pene
trated and broken. II was to this line that the
Germans retired last spring in their strategic"
retreat from the Somme. They chose their new
position deliberately and fortified 1t, both before
and after assuming It, with all the resources at
their command. It was impregnable, they
declared: and certainly they had every reason to do
their utmost to make it This is the line that
the Third British army, composed of English Welsh
Scotch and Irish regiments under command of
General Sir Julian Byng, has pierced. The British
who entered the war with hardly a handful OF
soldiers compared with their foe have smashed the
vauntedIy immovable defense of the Kaisers chief
war lord. In its immediate aspect the achievement
may be adversely explained, but the ultimate
PLANTATION is simply this; the British character
armed and equipped at last, is expressing itself
1.-THE Contemptibes" have arrived.
But suppose her land forces still in en-
OryO, now can the value OF brlIaln sea power III
this war for freedom even be reckoned? The whole
plan and system Of Allied defense depended on the
British fleet. The quietness with which It's work
has been done merely betoEens its strength; how
eectualy il has been done, the Kaisers imprisoned
navy bears witness. Until the United States en-
tered the war; Great Britain was the burden-shoul-
derer of her Allies economic needs, and from the
loyal savings and sacrifices of her people came the
sinews of finance. But these things only out
ward shows of Great Britain's part in the conflict
The profoundly important fact is that when she
faced the fateful issue in the summer of 1914 she
chose the way of honor and, unprepared as she was
set grimly forth to the struggle through. 1t
was Englands decision, be it always remembered
that shaped the ultimate alignment of nations and
foredoomed the fall of Prussianism. When this
war is won, there will be glory enough for all who
have fought for freedom, and each will dis
tinctive lustre. But will have served more
truly than this steadfast people
Who speak the tongue that Shakespeare
spake
The faith and morals hold that Milton held.
As far as running goes, every German at Cam
brai might have been an aeroplane.