Evening journal., 1917-07-31

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES,
1nly 31.-Ip three titanic forms OF
warfare imposed the past year by the
Imperial fofces Of imperial Germany
on the democratic armies OF demo-
cratic Frauce. the latter have estab-
lished and maintained an ever in
creasing ascendancy.
The significance OF this fact for
humanity at large exceeds a thousand
times the mere military value II may
have in eventually winning the war.
The third year OF the war has
marked the supreme test before the
Tribunal OF the world-before the tri-
bunal OF all humankind-of the SUI
periority of democratic over imperial
istic forces. And by forces" is not
meant mere armies.
The year was one in which every
force-intellectual material and ply
sical-that an imperialistic empire
was capable of inspiring and produc-
Ing, was massed against the same SUI
preme forces as inspired and created
BY a democracy in one great struggle
FOR the survival of the fittest. And
France-ever the first champion of
democracies-has justified the fitness
OF democracies to survive.
The test was one that could only
come with a fair degree OF equity
during the third year Of the war, u
was only then that France, inspired
for a quarter Of a century previous by
the democratic ideals. of peach was
able to enter the arena with all the
forces OF her national life modified
and turned into a single military aim.
Germany had begun the war two
years previously with this advantage
already established by forty years of
imperialistic ambitions and prenara-
lions
While with the opening Of the third
year Of the war, unquestionably still
had material advantage due to this
long, Intensive preparation, yet at
that time both France and Germany
had at hast brought into play the
highest forces that democratic ma
ilonal life was capable of producing
and opposing to those OF the maxi
mum imperi0listic inspiration.
The third year OF the war opened
with this democratic and imperlalis-
tic contrast even more pronounced in
the field Of military operations than
Elsewhere. Against the generals COM
handing the French generals
whose whole military education, ideals
and aims had been those OF a democ-
racy-was ranged the German armies
commanded in almost every instance
BY German princes and sovereigns
Inspired by the highest imperialistlc
ambition. training and beliefs.
The third year of the war entered
with two great battles already In pro
Bress--each representing a different
forin OF warfare and a form which
the Vermans themselves by their
superior preparation had been able at
WILL &c impose on France. At Verdun
g was the war Of siege; on the
SOmme the war OF trenches.
For Ave months and a half pracsd-
ing the third anniversary of the war
the French at Verdun had leld out
against the Germans perfected meth
DDS OF siege warfare, such as they
might have employed at Paris, but fot
the battle of the Marine. The first Of
August. 1916, marked the passing
there OF Germany's greatest effort
and the gradual retaking by the
French OF the offensive. For the FIRST
four months OF the third year OF the
war the Germans were slowly driven
back zrom the points where they had
nearest attained Verdun, and then in
two astounding assaults. one on No
Fember "a and the other on December
10 IN which not only the genius Of
he democratic military commanders