Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-09-13

aci'AeNe great results and y tAe very
heavy casualties that were incurred
produced a depression in France more
extensive and more dangerous han any
during the whole course OF the war.
This depression was accumulated by the
collapse of Russia and by the possible
ltN OF a separate peace etwee U
STA and the central powers. undobut-
eddy the extent and danger Of this
French depression were exaggerated
even IN the eyes OF those who saw it
most closely. Yet it was a very real
peril in the minds of the allied coun-
tries for many weeks, and 1t was in re-
Spouse to the appeal OF French officials
cogniZant of this peril that President
Wilson very wisely and promptly be-
gan the dispatch OF American troops to
the French front.
The arrival of the first of the Amer
lean troops coincide with the beginning
OF the reaSSertion OF French determin-
alton n French confidence. General
Petain. who succeeded to the command
OF the French army, is n of the few
great men the war has produced. With
in a very brief period of time his spirit,
which was the spirit which defended
Nerdun, has been infused in the French
armies, with results that are now mani
fest.
The great German offensive on the
Chemin-des- Danes. which was one OF
the really impressive operations of the
NHoiV car VII IL western 'front.', was
designed to take advantage of French
depression and of suspected breaking
down in the morale of the French army.
AS such IL was one of the bloodiest de-
feats in the whole struggle n one OF
the least successful offensive. HITHERTO.
IN almost every instance. the con-
c~en!rattion OF a huge park OF ar
%lillera and the lavish use OF men
have enabled the attacser to gain
one, two or three miles of territory. Yet.
on the Chemin-des- DANES, on ground
which had only recently peer captured
and was not yet fully organized. the
French halted the German attack in it's
tracks, lost only a few minor trenches
along the plateau OF California and
retook these trenches without de-
lay. The Chemin des- Dame pat
tie will yet rank among the import
ant engagements OF the war, because
it was another instance of the splendid
capacity of the French to rally in the
face OF momentary depression and to
hold against Odds and in conditions
fully unfavorable.
A Moral verdun.
The Chemin-des-Dames battle was a
moral Nerdun. 1t was intended first
of all to break h spirit OF France.
and, ever II 1t failed in it's major pur-
pose. to use up French effectives and
prevent them from being employed else
where. either in Flanders or in Lor-
SoiHe. ne CEtNCu answer wa three
fold. First. a terrifice defeat OF the
Germans on the Chemin -des-D Danes:
second, participation, and effective par
tciPation. with the British in the sue
|cessful advance about Ypres: and, third
In he superb offensive at verdup,
which not only rctook considerable
ground, but wrote Fins to the whole
Vsrdun chapter. The Germans had do
MED. and still deny, that there was a
battle of the Marine, but no denial OF
the battle and defeat of Verdun could
be possible. after each of the positions,
whose values had been appraised by the
kaiser at the IN they were taken
by German troops. have been retaken
by French soldiers. Dead Mans Hill.
Hill 3O4, Fort Douaumont and Vaux-
these are the four symbols of Verdun.
When the kaiser's troops took Douau-
mont he announced that the key Of
Verdun had fallen. Three months be-
fore his troops entered vaux the Ger
man official statements had claimed its
capture and the d~isintegration of the
French defense. Dead Mans Hill. when
captured. was celebrated as a pillar in
tne of the Teutonic military
glory. and OF all these. the fruits OF Ger
man effort, not one now remain in
German hands.
Despite all discussions. it is clear that
me papal proposal has fallen and that
The French, the Italian and the British
people are prepared TO go forward with
the war through the winter and. il
necessary, through the next campaign.
~ mas begun to be recognized that
Whatever happens in RUSSIA the de-
clsion will come in the west, and a
total Russian collapse will not long
postpone 1t. The d~isintegration of Ger
man morale is disclosing itself in each
successive operation along the western
front. No n believes that this dis
integration will go for enough to per-
init victory in the present campaign.
but as n by one the strongholds on
the western ron fall the meaning Of
the present situation is revealed.
Three Years After.
II is sometimes interesting to go back
into the still recent part of this war and
contrast the situation of that time with
the present. Three years g last week
the whole world suddenly heard that
victorious armies had broken French
and British resistance along the from
tier n were pushing rapidly on
toward Paris. The fourth week in
August. 1914, leading up to the climax
of Sedan day in the first hours of Sep
TENDER. saw Germany rushing forward
alton. 1t is only three years ago today
That the world was talking seriously Of
the fall of Paris. the collapse of France.
the inevitable triumph OF Germany.
And now, after three years of war. ono
sees along the whole western front tho
slow but sure ebbing OF the German
tide. h army that was at Senlis on
September i. 1914. and at Meaux on
September 5. is now in the ruins Of st.
Quentin and on the heights before
Laon. The German press, which boasted
three years & of the approach of a SUI
pre1ne military triumph, is now assert
ing that the German defensive cannot
tN~ ~ovr 500 AA~AL -. 1----.- =.