Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-04
ALLIED PROGRESS

From the standpoint of the Allies the situation on
the western front, which is where the war will be de-
cided, is much more encouraging than it has been at
any former time. If not from the beginning of the war.
at least since the collapse of Russia. It is we'll to re-
member that there was a time. while Russia was an ac-
tive and powerful forces, when the termination of the
war by a complete Allied victory seemed, il not very near.
at least to be in sight. With a large portion Of Ger
manys power in men and materials tied up on the lone
Russian front, the French and British were making
headway, and were forcing the Germans back steadily
and consistently. The elimination Of Russia changed
the situation utterly, and the work of gaining first an
equality and then a preponderancee of force on the
part of the Allies had to be done all over again.
Germany has drawn her forces from the east to the
utmost limit. The prospect is that instead of drawing
more from that quarter she will be obliged to strength
en- her eastern lines. There is no outside power upon
which She can draw. And, with her full force in the
field, the campaign is going against her. At no point
from the North sea to the Swiss border is she making
even slight gains. In all the great area where General
Foch has chosen that this series Of battles shall be
fought the Germans are being beaten back in direct
frontal attacks or thanked out Of vital positions. The
onslaught which Foch let loose upon the enemy six
weeks ago has gained in force and effectiveness, and to-
day the Allies are driving the Germans back faster, and
with greater losses, than in any preceding week of the
offensive. There is no sign visible that the offensive will
be stopped, and no sign that the Germans will be able
to make an effective stand at any particular place.
1t may be that the Huns will be driven out of
France before winter sets in. That would be a glorious
way to end the summer of 1918. But we must remem-
Der that when that is done, whether now or next year,
that after France comes Belgium, and after Belgium,
Germany.
One may see visions and dreams Of the capitulauon
Of the German armies before the Rhine is reached, and
the world would welcome such destruction Of the Ger
man military power at any time. But, after all, there
would be a violation of the eternal fitness of things if
the war were to close without some of it's horrors beng
transferred to German soil. That the armies Of the AL
lies will ever inflict on the civil population of any part
of Germany the. brutalities that the German armies
have Systematically inflicted on the defenseless in Bel
GUM and France is not to be imagined The will to
exact retribution may be there, but the ability to plunge
themselves into the depths Of degradation in which
German troops have wallowed does not exist among the
soldiers of civilized nations. But the German people
need an impressive lesson that has not yet been taught
them, and one that cannot be taught them until they
have known by actual experience what it is to have their
own soil torn with shot and shell, their own villages
swept out Of existence, their own peasantry searching in
vain for something to show where their homes once
were. y