Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-19

is so narrow that it must affect the
morale OF the population. But even
so the Italians would not have been
driven back SO far as they were II
two or three divisions, holding an al
most impregnable point, debauched by
the excellent spy system OF Germany,
had not thrown down their arms The
Italians had defeated the Austrians,
1t was German divisions with artil-
lery from the eastern and western
fronts, which restored the morale Of
the Austro-iIungarian troops and
themselves led the successful thrust.
The French and British have a
moderate preponderance in guns and
man for man they Outright the Ger
mans.
All Of the German class Of next
years boys OF u are in the army and
many Of is, whose tsar-stalned faces
among the prisoners wrench the
hearts of the Tommies and the Poilus.
who show them a shy, tender and
clumsy kindness. Plainly the re-
/ sources In men and material are run
ming low. While there are still ex-
eellent German divisions in Flanders,
there wae an appreciable 9iminution
| in the morale and the physical quail
| ity Of the German troops on the
French and British fronts during tile
| 10 weeks in which | was in Europe.
! Germany, everywhere had lost the Of
fensive. At tho battle OF the Chemin
des Danes. which was. the greatest
| artillery bombardment the French
ever have made. had the good for
! tune to witness a perfect operation
, The German batteries were so
/ drenched with fire that they were IN
able to reply. With almost mathe-
NAUTICAL eXactness the French took the
terrain, which they shad planned to
take weeks before Hundreds OF
miles of track, icores of train1oads
/ Of ammunition, hundreds and hun
dreds of heavy guns were employed
TO wreck the enemy defenses, to over
whelm and kill the enemy before the
advance was made, so, at last, when
the infantry went forward, they did
so with unbelievably small losses
There | witnessed the demonstration
Of what l had learned from the lips
Of the most distinguished French gen
erals during my wanderings along the
front This is an artillery, an in
sdustrial war. That must never be-
forgotten.
Time II Essence.
Shipping to be sure is necessary
before anything else, because vessels
must carry to France the engines o.
destruction. but above allsheavy guns
/ are ecessary-heavy guns, with theil
obvious compliments of air craft anC
rail transportation. but heavy guns
and still more heavy guns; $4,000 can
non 10 he made In American factorie.
and shipped to France before Marcel
d ], 1918. Time is the essence of vic
tory and great guns offer the onl,
means by which it can be won Til,
, more great guns the fewer lives lost
q the more great guns the surer TIL
5 victory; the more great guns, TIL
1 smaller the price We shall pay 70
. our present unreadiness.
The issue of this war will be de
cided not on the lsonzo or the Piave
a not on the Meuse or the Rhine, but il
b Washington, and by the furnaces 0
b. America,
}, 81 very much admire Lord North
cIiffe but in his eagerness 10 shocl
e Britain to further efforts he has paint
S ed q partial picture Of American Ell
d fort which if it be taken as a faithful
r reelection of the whole. is likely to en-
q danger our common cause This wa
70 must be won u We are to win it, b
the manufacture in America of thou
D sands Of engines Of war. Men ca