Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-20
GERMANY ExHAUSTINC HER
PRECIOUS time RESERVES
A Leaf Torn From Tomorrow's Calendar
Will End the Spring Campaign, Which
Has Failed of Primary Objectives

mark the exhaustion of nearly one
half of Germanys reserves in an asset
which her leaders clearly recognized as
prime agent of victory. No INSIDE
information prompts this statement. Any
man with a calendar can figure it out
for himself. for the precious ''com-
modify" of time permits of no jugglery
by the statistician.
Germany may have far vaster man.
power than even the most pessimstic of
our war critics have imagined She may
be already wasting her human reserves,
in prodigal fury. History will some day
disclose the actual facts, but one doesn't
have to wait so long to digest others of
equal perhaps superior, Importance.
Be the Huns army resources either
greater or fewer than we have thought,
there can be no question of their infcri-
olity to the full massing of Americas
man-power Time alone is needed for the
forging of that tremendous weapon, and
time is precisely what the German high
command determined not to grant US
when Ludendorff and Hindenburg re-
solved to 'clean up the war" this sum-
mer.
Approximately seven months was ac-
corded them for conducting the titanic
enterprise. Adhering closely to the cal
endar, which now affords US so signf-
cant guide as to chronological "wast-
age" the first great offensive was fixed
for March 2l as prelude to further
major operations designed to win deci-
sion in the war before 1919, when the
Americans would be present in prepon-
derating numbers.
Cold weather sets its seal on front ac-
tivities at about the first of November
Seven months comprised that invaluable
time reserve. Four are still to be utilized.
Once drained, the supply as an agent for
German success can never be replenished
The hopeful tone of Bonar Laws
House of Commons speech plainly re-
fleets the essence of the situation. The
campaigns which he reviews were un-
questionably series of defeats for our
cause, yet to survey them with despair
is the height of superficiality. The Brit
ish Chancellor makes no cuch error. 1--WE
can look forward" he maintains. upon
what has happened with some confidence.
In this whole campaign the Germans
have had before them three great OBJ
jectives. One was Paris, another was
the channel ports, the third was not only
the defeat, if they could achieve it, of
ho INIT tho hroa Ii of tln
communications between the French and
| the British forces. Although the Allies
have had to give much ground, not one
of the enemy's strategic objects has been
attained. Necessity" he adds, "has made
possible what seemed impossible. The
American troops coming; they
have come. Am AZ coming into
the war; she is j.
Without in any way optimistically
overlooking a situation which may
change daily with startling rapidity, it is
here perfectly evident that Germany has
run behind time schedule far more in
eXorable than any twill to conquer" Un-
questionably she is using up her hand-
cap without commensurate gains to show
for it. Conceivably, of course, she might
steal a march on time and treble the
intensity and celebrity of her blows. Fully
that speed. however, would have to be
attained to make up for what she has
/ lost.
1t is folly to crow until one is out of
the woods, but surely it is permissible
to acknowledge CLINT of light as it
peeps through the trees. This is what
every lover of liberty can do tomorrow if
as he tears leaf from his calendar he
realizes that the spring campaign of
Germany is at an end Re-enactment of
the same critical situation as regards dis.
parity in numbers will be impossible an
other year and, perhaps, as the Ameri-
cans keep coming, even before autumn
sets in.
With characteristic modesty Grant un-
derstated his intentions in declaring, 81
shall fight it out on this line if it takes
all summer He had all the time he
wanted, and would, if necessary, have
used it, for even as late as 1865 the
North was soberly preparing for three
years more of war.
eve must fight it out on this line an,
have only this summer for victory i.
indisputably the spirit of Germany's in
tent. Not eUen the Kaiser can PIT bacj
the clock, aUhose every tick strengthen
his foes.