The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-08-05
RESULTS OF DRIVE


 
 Many and varied are the opinions of the allied counter drive on the Marne salient of the Germans Some few knockers view it in skeptical manner and believe that little has really been accomplished. About an equal number make a great noise and proceed to celebrate as if the war were won. They seem to lack realization of the true extent of the victory and are apparently almost overcome by the change in the tide of battle.
 The vast ma jority of Americans are view ing the matter as it really is. The leaders had announced their intention to counter the German drive and made the forced retire ment of the Huns from beyond the Marne the first object of their attack That object was accomplished in whirlwind style and in itself was one of the greatest victories of the war; The tide was turned The yielding army had turned and successfully warded off the Hun blow.
 The man power which turned the tide was from America, and we have just cause to celebrate that part, and we might have been we'll content if the advance had stopped there There Germans were on the run, and General Foch's plan was to follow them as long as the cost was not too great. Absolute ly no indication was given that the allied forces were ready to make the big offensive, which General March announced would come later in the year. It was simply taking all the advantages that the unexpected display of strength gave them Several times within the past few days they have apparently been ready to stop but for that ability of the com paratively few Americans which are leading fha Iri1y 1,o h0Ix Of troops is not yet in the fight, and General Foch is not ready to attempt to drive into the German lines, although the present of- fensive may easily drift into big one.
 The extent of the allied victory is best shown by the effect on the Germans In the first place the Germans are not to be thought of as being disheartened, half-beaten mob of fighters. The machine which broke Rus sia, trampled ruthlessly on Ru1mania, Bel gium, Serbia and northern Italy is still in good working order. Only at one place have they been stopped, and that in France The hordes which were fighting on the other fronts have been brought to France. Three times this year have they put dents in the allied lines. Just as they finished the third dent and crossed the Marne, the counter came It was unexpected, due to the skill of the French leader, and the advantages gained have been great The Germans have changed their policies more during the last few days than during almost the entire war From advance to retreat, retreat to stand, stand to retreat and again to stand they have gone. Almost one-half of their available army has been brought up in an effort to make the second stand. It may Succeed, and it is not defeat for us if it does. There looms up the possibility of the allied advances at other points where the Huns have had to greatly weaken their lines by withdrawing men to hold the small portion of the Marne salient which yet remains in their possession and which is now really the Soissons Rheims salient The available German army on the western front is estimated at about two and one-quarter million men, and almost one mil lion are now at the Soissons-Rheims salient By available is meant the number which are free to fight on the first line of battle. Huge numbers are used in. transportation of sup plies and i'll other routine work.
 The first stage of the battle is apparently drawing to close as a glorious victory for the allied forces. The strength of the Ger mans has been shaken to the very founda- tions. The imperial power is tottering. Tur- key and Bulgaria are drawing away in their search for an easy way out. Victorious Ger many was valuable ally, but losing Ger many is worse than poison, and the ever pres ent argument in favor of the allies is, if two hundred thousand Yankees can make such an impression on the German army, what will two million do? Danger from starvation is rapidly disappearing and the allied day is dawning