The Washington herald., 1918-06-03
Up 10 Is.


Gen. Bridges, head of the British War Mission
to the United States, declares that American
troops have become a vital factor in the great
battle in France and may hold the balance between
defeat and victory.
NJ Barres, one of the soundcst of the French
military critics, says:
Each week that the German offensive has been
delayed has been equal to a reinforcement OF the
allies to the extept of an army corps, owing to
the importance of the arrivals of American troops
In one single convoy $4,000 American troops have
crossed the Atlantic to France. What proof this
is OF the powerlessness to which German suLhrna-
rines have been reduced!
"We have been officially told by Secretary
Baker and by NJ. Tardieu, the French High Com
missioner in the United States. that there now
a half million American soldiers in France, and
that there will be million in France before the
middle OF September and million and half be-
fore the end of the year. And / learn that these
promises, thanks to President Wilson, win be
largely exceeded.
Il believe l can affirm that by the end of
autumn nearly two million American soldiers will
have landed in France. These figures, together
with superiority in airplapes and tanks, which
is overwhelming, explain the desperate effort of
the German command to force decision"
The London Times says that "the American
war power is growing fast. The whole nation is
behind the army it has been behind any
movement yet and it is nation of 100000
freemen who have never known defeat. Until
they join us in full force our business is to hold
When they join victory will be ours"
Along the same line is the statement of the
London Telegraph, which praises the American
stroke at Cantigny exhibition OF mastery
methods of fighting, and places reliance on 'the
formidable American hosts preparing to en-
fHa . liz ,r
the book OF fate that the civilization of the West
ern world shall go down before the arms of Ger
many"
Lloyd George struck the same when he
said the present battle a between Hin
denburg and President Wilson," and made the issue
of the matter solely resting in the hands
of America. A few months ago Americans were
doubtful of themselves and of their capacity
to play a really vital part in the conflict. Many
OF them, perhaps, had idea that Germany would
be beaten before "over there" in real
force, and psychology befogged
with various distractions that it seemed to be un-
certain whether would ever get to France in
rea force at any time.
Now all that is changed. The testimony is
unanimous that the fate OF the whole cause in
which we are engaged depends upon
France and Britain will hold out until have
our legions the battle line. All they expect
before the superior forces of the enemy until we
ready. Then the fght-snd It may
possibly be long, bitter uphill hght-when Ger
many must not only become the anvil instead of
the hammer again, but must be beaten back, de-
feated, broken, compelled TO for peace.
This is the job facing the American people.
1t is already beginning to bring mighty reaction
from them. 1t is stirring them to the depths,
capturing their imagination, enthralling their love
of big work, bringing them at last to think
in international terms They no longer speculate
idly on when the war will end. They appreciate
the size OF the job cut out for them, and de-
termined to do it, matter how long it takes.
If the decision comes in 1919, much the better;
if in 1870 1921, not quite good but IN any
event there must be favorable decision. The
foolish Germans, who hope to pummel their
enemies into frame of mind in which they will
accept a negotiated peace, giving them free hand
in the East, never seemed futile than today,
far America is concerned. We are in the
war the end and will never rest until achieve
the end that we desire