Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-17
Wednesday, July II, 1918.
Tho Worlds Fate Hangs

In spite OF the cneer IN INC sllud-
ton on the west front. let US not
raise our hopes too high. and let us
begin to brace ourselves to face the
cost as our boys over there would
have us fare them. like brave, pa
triotic people.
This is an hour Of tremendous
world meaning and consequences.
whether or ret the world shall so on
with free people everywhere. enjoy
ing peace and the rights OF self
expression in the voice Of control, or
whether it shall go on under the
domination Of constituencies, honor
less oligarchy, may be settled today,
or tomorrow, or next day, on the
west front where Germany is making
her last desperate plunge in the
name of m;litarism and kultur.
Our confidence is adding to its
sandbags If absolute surety every
hour. but the fortunes of war many
times look d;sheartening until they
are analyzei.
Just now TUESDAY afternoon) we
are inclined to throw up our old hat
and "hoorah" for the dashing, brave
hearted, strong bodied, clear headed,
and single pun posed. royal American
boys And another for the brave lads
of our eldest sister republic, that
dear Frame. And another for the
loyal fighting Tommies who never
know when trey are licked. Again
for the dark skinned chaps from
sunny Italy, Who are never shot III
the back. Arc once more for the
unconuuerai'e Belgians who in 1914
took the first Prussian trump and
broke the kaiser's play.
Together tnny stand grandly. not
only holding" the Hun hosts bu:
taking the heart out of them" by
showing that the allied forces were
never so strong as today.
The first Sc hours of the fifth Ger
man smash IN 1915 strongly justifies
our faith in the allied strength and
In Gen. Foch. 1t also justif1es our
conviction that the German ''irre-
sistible force" was bound. eventual
&~,l, hi boI
that the kaiscr's army is markedly
inferior to tiIat in the first fierce
ago.
At that time the Huns advanced
about 35 miles and occupied 975
square miles of land. Worst of all
they captured 10000 prisoners and
1900 guns. Even so, they paid toe
much for their whistle" says George
Harvey in MS North American Wal
Weekly. Their losses were so ire
mendous that when three weeks later
they essayed a second drive at Ypres
Their greatest advance was not more
than 10 miles and less than 200
square miles Of land were gained
while the number Of prisoners was
not moro than 10000, and that OF
guns taken was scarcely 200.
More than six weeks then elapsed
from the beginning Of that secon
drive, before another was undertaken
That was in Champagne. and because
Of the long rest and the bringing II
OF fresh levies from Austria an
from Russia it was made more Wig
orcusly and effectively than the sec
ond. though it did not reach the pro
portions of the first. The maximum
advance was not more than 80 miles
the area occupied was perhaps 95
square miles. and $1,000 prisoner
and 900 guns were taken. Clos
upon the heels of this came tn
fourth. which began and. ended i,
mid June. 1t pushed the German lin
forward not more than six miles a
any point, and gained not more tina,
$50 square miles. and took onl,
$4,000 prisoners and $50 guns.
The fifth is under way and tn
confidence Of the allies inspires jubil
alton. But let US hold in our inclin
ations as we have restrained OIL
fears in darker days.
Our boys arc between the Prussia,
hordes and Paris, and they shall no
pass" is burned into the fiber Of hv
ery loyal heart as deeply as In,
Henchman could wish. The Fl mel
people need have no fear Of HI,
overflow while an American arr
ran be raised.
Only a little way ahead We s.a
kreat light-!et US watch t,at ,iebt,
Hayti has declared it. h...s