The Washington herald., 1917-08-03
Means Peace Either Way

Means Peace Either Way. -
The battle will be decisive. That
Is agreed upon in all the capitals Of
Europe. II will result either Ia the
heaviest possible blow TO the Ger
man submarine warfare by the wip-
ing out of the U-boat bases on the
Belgian coast. and IL this result ia
attained land blow of tremendous
proportions as well or II will confirm
the stalemste on the Western front
and leave the way open 10 no other
settlement Of the war than by
negotiation.
The peace talk now being heard
in several capitals, notably Vienna.
must wait. 1t is believed here. on
the decision in Flanders. Then, what
ever result II attained. the time VIII
be ripe for peace.
Have Vital Advantsse.
This will be the case. il is believed
even should the allies carry through
their, Flanders drive 70 the most
successful OF conclusions.
Tor should such rcne 70 pass Il
wa mark the virtual defeat Of Ger
many II will demonstrate that she
is losing grip and. taken in conyunc-
Aea WIN the AlANNEEl neNELnfN N EMS
which would follow a defeat Of her
armies, she would be plainly beaten
for all the world 10 see.
The allies go into the battle with
two vital advantages. as has been
demonstrated from the fighting 80
far
They have com7Iete control Of the
air.
They have preponderance Of artn-
lery.
Sea Control Absolute.
II is to meet these advanta Ces. and
II possible offset them, that the Ger
man war council tonight is puzzlinz
its brains, according to Holland dis
patches based on Information hlter-
ing over the frontier.
In addition TO these the allies re-
tain another vital grip which Ger
many can not loosen and which is
slowly strangling her-the control Of
the sea.
Germany can send out her subma-
rines, she can send out her fast raid
ing squadrons. but her high-sess neet
is rusting at its docks and she can
not lift the economic pressure and
hunger-blockade which are tying her
arms and choking her throat.
The British navy has more COM
plete control OF the seas than the
Germany army has on land. Admiral
Sir John Jellicoe. first sea lord. point
ed out today, in discussing the sea-
strangling Of Geremany.
Wait on weather.
The Flanders action will be resurn.
ed on the wide scale OF the first dsy
Immediately the weather clears, ae-
cording 10 every indication in to-
nights report from the front Mean
while. despite the rain and mist, which
blinds the artillery and to a large e1-
tent hampers the air Scorps. heavy
fighting is going on in spots.
Sir Douglas Haig. by violent coup-
ter attacks, has regained the ground
lost to the Germans yesterday near
the Ypres-Roulers Railway. while Ger
man attacks at other points OF the
front have been repulsed with sreat
losses TO the enemy.
Ire Germans are attacking with es-
pecially large numbers. in an effort
to drive the British from important
positions along the Pilkem Ridge. hui
all their efforts have failed. Thou
sands Of German dead strew the
Sticky mud OF the Flanders fiatlands.
Make Desperate Efforts.
The rain Is almost incessant ana
there have been but few bright DAYS.
The German attacks have been
launched under the most unfavorsbls
conditions and correspondents at sn<
front declare their losses are tremen-
dous.
i Two days ago when So Douglar
Haig launched his first blow the
German lines were held IN many sec
tions by young troops boys Of the
class OF 1915 These have now been
replaced by veterans hastily shifted
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO.