Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-07-24
War Situation in Review.
(By Mrs. B. L. Mims.)

Every mother, wife, sister and
sweetheart in our beloved country
today has just cause for pride in the
wonderful heroism displayed by u
khaki-clad boys in the latest drive
by the terrible Huns.
On Friday the enemy began the
long expected offensive east and west
of what was once the beautiful city
of Rheims. The waves of gray on a
sixty-fve mile front, on an average
of $4,000 men to a mile, were met
with savage resistance by the French,
Italian and American forces.
Advices from General Pershing and
Bliss state that the situation follow
ing the first day of the great battle
in which our troops have taken part
is entirely satisfactory. At II or
two points by sheer weight of num-
bers the allied line was forced to
bend back but in every case as
far as can be learned the enemy were
hurled back by counter attacks with
terrible losses.
The enemy claimed $4,000 prison
ers but we have long been accustom-
ed to their idle Boosting and in the
light of subsequent events we cannot
think this possible but only a S to
lift the morale of their civilian popu-
lation and soldiery. Surely it is a sig
nifcant fact that the morale of the
German prisoners, captured during
this drive, is lower than any captur-
ed in recent months. A German car
rier pigeon that was captured bore
this message, "The fighting for the
passage of the Marine is worse than
an inferno"
The mornings paper again points
to the political unrest in the dual
monarchy. The Czecho Slavs, the Ju-
90 Slavs and the long suffering Poles
are determined upon freedom. The
unrest among the people has been
growing for a long time. $4,000 Cze-
cha Slavs who either. deserted or were
captured are heading through Siberia
in order to join in the fight against
the Teutons. 1t is thought that If the
Franco-Italians actually reach the
southern border of Austria, these SOL
diers may play ar important part IN
the cause for freedom.
The situation as regards poor sui
fering Russia is indeed interesting.
Russia's one-time hero, Kerenskl, has
suddenly reappeared and demanded
called reconstruction" of his coun-
trv and there is a growing demand
in both Europe and Japan for some
decisive action to be taken. Japan
has three army corps of $4,000 troops
already modified for Intervention
in Siberia to safeguard the allied
stores landed at V~ladivostok for the
use of the Russians and is only wait
ling for permission from u Govern
ment to make a move. Our boys are
fighting in this world war for the
purpose of supporting democracles,
and the self-determinations of peo-
pies, and our Government cannot give
Japan permission to make this move
alone, knowing the opposition OF the
people of Russia and China, the two
largest democracies in the world and
both in critical stages of their evol-
Iution. 1t is an interesting fact that
some of our forces, the number IS
not known, are now moving into Rus
STA by way of the Arctic, and war
torn Russia may yet be able to take
her place at the peace table.
Surely it is. a time for fervent
prayer that God, as in the days of
old will hear the cries of His people
for deliverance from their enemies.
The women of our land have so
definite a work to do as u part OF
this great cause and still there are
some of us who have not awakened to
the fact. To the individual woman
as we'll as man, it should be deemed
a worthy privilege to take part i n a
war of righteousness against I'M
righteousness.
While we are praying for u boys
at the front, let us pray that there
will be no slackers among the women
of our town.