The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-06

to provide Hindenberg with adequate
forces for his operations in Picardy.
Fourth, it is possible that the Ger
man high command has been able to
muster sufficient troops to carry on
the battle in Picardy and at the same
time organize a second offensive at
some other point in the line and that
allied reserves have been kept out OF
the Picardy campaign for the pur-
pose of meeting this second peril.
Time alone will tell what the real
governing factor has been.
Defeat But Not Disaster.
There is no good in attempting. TO
disguise the fact that up to the time
this article was written the Dattle Oh
Picardy was a real German victory
and a real allied defeat. The truth
might as well be faced, and knowing
the truth, we shall rise to meet the
emergency as we never ShouIo rise
if we failed to comprehend the gravity
of the situation.
It was an allied defeat, but not a
disaster. The line is still intact and
defeat may yet, thru the hidden
strategy of the allied commanders, be
TUNED into victory. The Germans
are too close to Paris and too close
to Amiens and the channel ports Tor
comfort, but there is every reason TO
hope that with time to bring up rein
forcements and new guns to replace
those lost in the retreat, the British
and French will be able at the worst,
| to hold their ground and prevent any
further advance of Importance.
Defeat Brought Unity.
One thing is certain. The unifica-
ton of the allied command in the
hands of one man is worth all that
has been lost. If the British parlia-
ment and people had given Lloyd
George a free hand last winter and
General Foch had been appointed
7 L., = "a
present defeat might never have
taken place. From the beginning of
the war the Germans have had the
tremendous advantage of fighting as
a. unit under one command against a
| loosely joined alliance of armies that
i could not agree among themselves on
satisfactory plan of action.
American Troops to Go In.
AS an outgrowth of this unification
| of command comes the possibility OF
American units not yet ready, to be
| organized into a separate army fight
! ing among French and British divi-
sions and thus reinforcing their hard
pressed allies months sooner than
would have been possible under the
Arrangement of separate sectors and
separate commands.
American People Awakened.
Since our entry into the war moth
ing has happened that has contributed
4 SO MUCH IOWdTQ dWdk0HlHS Tie AHleI-
lean people to a realization of the seri-
BUSINESS of the undertaking and the
necessity for haste as has the German
offensive in Picardy. Government
and people are redoubling their ef-
forts. Every sane American knows
for himself, now, that the winning OF
the war is up to the United States and
| that there can be no peace but a Ger
man peace until we have thrown
enough men and munitions into the
balance to turn the scale and achieve
a decisive victory.
| Still Bare Chance fog Counter Attack
OF course there is still chance fol
General Foch to turn the Picardy de-
feat into victory. That astute COM
mander' may have refrained from
counter attacking earlier in order tc
allow the German forces to become
completely. exhausted in a second at
tempt to reach ~Amiens. AS to that
/ no one outside of the inner council OF
the allies is in a position to know. Il
is real possibility, but to an observer
/ standing on the outside it seems hard
4 ly probability. 1t is hard to under
| stand why, if a counter attack was tC
be made, it should not have beer
made week ago before the German
forces had time to bring up reinforce
ments and guns.