Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-02
Friday August 2, 1918.
SOARING for Time

Thursdays dispatches indicate that
both gigantic antagonists are spar
ring for time while getting their feet
under them Wednesday morning
we said that the situation indicated
unlimited concentration in the Sois-
sons Rheims territory and a final
test Of strength there. Thursday
morning Washington's military ex-
perts voiced the same conclusions.
Paris expects the supreme battle
there at no far distant date. London
looks for a Flanders battle soon, If
a finishing stroke is not dealt along
the Vesle or the Aisne. All admit
the possibility Of another blow at
Italy with German officers at the
head Of Austrian divisions, but all
are convinced that the decisioa must
be obtained from a western front
manifestation OF power that con-
vinces Germany of the futility and
folly Of continuation.
Our Job is not only to LICK the
German army, but to convince the
German people that it is licked, and
that militarism. Prussianism and
Kulturism must be buried in the
same grave.
When Germany had selected the
best Of all her many divisions with
which to prove her boast, and had
placed the crown prince himself in
command, she staged the grande
finale. triumphal entry to Paris.
Then a quarter million American
fighting men slipped in across the
path and the scenes changed.
German military men know that
she no longer holds superiority in
man power. and Ludendorff, Prince
Rupprecht and some others (even if
the Kaiser and crown prince do noD
know that man for man by division.
the Germans are outClassed by the
allied troops. This has been brought
about by the Ludendorff plan of rob-
bling the entire army Of its best to
make up "matchless" divisions o.
shock troops and these matchless
divisions have been cut to a frazzle
The Kaiser says the approach of a
great American army does not scare
Germany, but in a very small voice
he said to himself. yes it does
For. fool that he is, the Kaiser to-
Cay knows that when he touched off
the world war he signed his own
Death warrant, and for the death
also, of all that he represents this
side Of hell-Prussianism, militar
ism, Me und Colt ism. Kultur anc
frightfulness.
The Kaiser's only hope lies in
duke this month after that tim
another half million Americans will
be on the fighting front, and the Ger
man advantage III HullipeiS Will ~
forever lost.
Then Germany must win now o
never. 1t was apparent last winte
that Germany must win in this sea
sons campaign if ever. Close stu
dents of events as early as Januar,
saw this as the last campaign. Som
believed that Germany already rec
ognized the hand writing on the wal
and would attempt to bluff through
peace arrangement, accepting al
that she could secure by threat an
buster.
But there was a hope. howeve
desperate it might be, that tn,
Hohenzollern dynasty could be save
by the sacrifice of only a few hun
dred thousands Of otherwise useles
human material. And what Is tn
life Of even a million or two whe
compared with Me" and my sons"
The sacrifice has been made. but i
their ignorance Of facts and dull
dumb-beast acceptance of imperia
command, the German people per
nit the slaughter to go on. Ho,
long, it is for them to decide.