The Washington herald., 1917-04-16

sword Of easy-going predecessors. his
first blow awOke a chorus Of horror at
the North; half that section was shrek
ing anathema because Of the bloody cost
OF SpottslyvaEia, the Wilderness. Cold
HarbOr. But Lincoln, delighted that he
had found at last a man who understood
him, a hand to execute his will, tele-
graphed amid the roar of anger and de-
mands for Grants removal: "I begin to
see It. You will succeed. God bless you
alI?"
Have We Reached the "HindenburE
Linef"
London Chronicle)
The German retreat in France has come
to something like a stop during the past
few days. Sharp combats are in progress
between the advanced troops Of the allies
and the enemy rearguards. The latter
have developed sufficient strength to
check the movement of our outermost
screen; and when we bring up men and
guns to carry important points, they also
are reinforced and reply to our attack
with counter-attacks. Have we, then.
reached the "Hindenburg line" and is the
battle to be resumed on the new positions
by the old methods Of trench warfare?
1t looks like il. There was a phase last
week-when Tergnier fell and the French
pushed across the ST. Quentin Canal and
the railway junction OF st. Quentin IT.
self came under our gunfire-which
prompted some people to ask. whether
after all any "Hindenburg line" existed,
and whether we should not in fact see
the retreat carried a great deal farther.
They had It in their minds, that the line,
If line there was. must run along the
canal and also include the main pre-war
raj Ina NVYrN
draw large deductions from the apparent
unwillingness or inability OF the Germans
to defend hem. But whether or not the
line exists. these reasons for doubling
its existence amount to little. A canal
Is not. as a military obstacle, worth max
ing very much Of; while the talk about
railway functions overlooks the great
amount of new railway building, which
has revolutionized the systems on both
sides Of the Western front. II the Ger
mans have really constructed a "Hinden-
burg line" It may be assumed that rail-
ways and functions have been construct
ed for it, and the Importance of a pre-
existing railway center, like st. Quentin
which in Asia or even in Galicia would
be immense. may under the French con-
diuons be quite inconsiderable. The main
concern Of the German command will be
with what cannot be altered-that is, the
lie OF the country-and in the line" there
is only one great natural feature-the
formidable forest sand hills in front OF
Laon, on the enemy's left flank. from
which they can show no signs Of budg-
ing.
Wake Up!
tChiraro Tribune
In some fashion or other the Middle
West must be raised out OF lethargy.
We understand that emotions have been
torn to tatters, and the perceptions arc
dulled. The world has been a strange
place and the normal quiet American,
amiable and home loving, seeks isolation
from its terrors.
He cannot see a wolf at the door and
he cannot get thrill in his emotional
nature because he cannot register
emotions. But this must be changed.
The wolf Is at the door. The comforta bic
home is resting on sand. It is not on
solid rock. The placidity Of the Amer1-
can home is an illusion of the house
holder
We cannot contemplate this war in
whlch we are engaged as a mental state.
1t Is a physical fact. When the en-
thusiasuo young recruits from the GreaI
Lakes Training station, young fellows
who had enlisted a month ago. walked
through the streets OF Chicago yesterday
on their way to the seaboard, to do
their duty and to take their punishment
they marched through silent and fndif-
ferent streets.
The boys had done something. They
had enlisted. Incidentally they stood
over by the Madison street bridge a
long time exposed to a chilling wind and
they were in their blouses without jack
cts. blue and trembling with cold-per-
fect examples of the American idea that
II a man offers himself for his country
he must Immediately be made miserable.
That can be overlooked, but the utter
indifference of the Chicago public To
these boys was distressing. When =
German detachment, however small. goes
through the streets of Berlin to a troop
train 1t goes with music, flowers, nd
applause. The men are on their way to
do something for the nation. The nation
indicates appreciation to them.
Is the United States dead? Or IL II
merely sleeping. II it can wake up it is
| time for it to wake up.