The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-26
ALL EYES ON U. S.
Entry of America Big Event of
Fourth Year of War.
ing Point in History.
U. S. FIGURED IN PLANS OF ALL
All Belligerents Based Move
ments on Americas Entry.
Fifth Year of War Begins With
Outlook Dark for Huns.
j. S. FIGURED IN PLANS OF ALL
BY ]. w T. MASON.

% y. w. Il. MASON.
Copyright, 1918. by the United Press)
New York, July 26.-The fourth
year of the war is ending with the
strategic initiative dramatically re-
stored to General Foch along the
Marine, following Americas first CO.
operative engagements with the allies.
The arrival of Americas first mil
lion troops in France, insuring the
fl defeat of German militarism has
been the most important event of the
fourth year of the war.
The turning point in modern civili-
zation will probably be dated by fu-
ture historians from the year of strife
now closing, because of Americas re-
solve to consent to no peace until the
Hohenzollern menace to the world is
crushed. Despite the fact that Ameri-
can troops have played only a minor
part in the years fighting. the United
States has predominantly Influenced
the strategy of the fourth year of the
war. The outstanding battlefield facts
of the year have been Won linden
burg's maddened efforts to break the
British and French forth, and General
Foch's counter-policy of patient de-
Tense.
Hindenburg's Motive.
It was fear of Americas fast ac-
cumulating military strength that
compelled Won Hindenburg to engage
in his campaign of ruthlessly sacrifice
ing his own troops; and it was the
knowledge of the overwhelming rein
forcements America was sending to
the allies that permitted General Foch
to see his lines driven back, without
loss of morale to the allied forces.
Every major plan worked out in Ber-
lin as well as in the capitals of tbs
allies this year has similarity been
based fundamentally upon Americas
forthcoming major activities in the
war.
The necessity for these plans was
fully justified at first serious encoun-
tiers between the Americans and the
Germans. which occurred eleven days
ago south of the Marine, opposite
Jaulgonne. Won Hindenburg's fifth
offensive was shattered by the Ameri-
can counter attacks, which forced the
Germans to retire to the north bank
of the river. The American success
was especially significant because it
was the first time American officers
and men had been tested in the diff
cult tactics of counter assaults. Fol!
lowing this early promise, the Ameri-
cans contributed similarly effective
aid to General Foch's cautiously de-
NC1OpGo oIlNtS DetWetH the AlSHe ana
the Marine, which are still proceed
ing.
The American successes during the
year in Picardy and in the Chateau
Thierry sector. have been minor af-
fairs. regarded as isolated engage
ments. But. all the victories of Won
Hindenburg in Flanders, Picardy and
Champagne do not compare in their
ultimate consequences with the prom
Use to world democracy contained in
the American operations at Cantigny,
Belleau VIC cd and VauX.
Prussian Threats.
Starting the fourth year of the war
with arrogant threats to the allies of
new changes in the map of Europe
unless the successes of the German
armies were accepted as decisive, the
German government has ended the
year by confessing that battlefield vic
tories cannot bring peace. Foreign
Minister Won Kuhlmann's pronounce
ment to this effect in the reichstag
ranks second only to Americas i'm
mense war preparations as the years
most significant event. The reluc-
lance of the kaiser's militarists to
compel the resign. tion of Won Kuh1-
mann Immediately after his repudia-
ton of the invincibility of the German
army is indicative of the SOLDERING eff
feet the presence of a million Ameri-
can troops in France is having even
on Won Hindenburg.
Won Kuhlmanns eventual retire
ment was desperate expedient to
stem decline in German morale due
to his speech.
1t is apparent that as the fifth year
OF warfare begins, the German leaders
are taking an increasingly grave view
of the situation facing them, They
dare not promise a decisive victory to
the kaiser's deluded subjects any long
er. The people of Germany are being
prepared, in fact. for the assumption
of a. permanently defensive role by
Won Hindenburg. This. altho the
fourth year of conflict has seen Won
Hindenburg display an unprecedented
degree of power in offensive warfare.
nevertheless. the year ends with an
admission by the German government
that by these means peace cannot be
won. In that fact is the certainty of
| ultimate victory for democracy.
Dual Monarchy Sees This
Affairs in Austro-Hungary during
the past year have been highly unsat-
| isfa Glory to the Germans. The people
of the dual monarchy have shown no
gratitude for the German assistance
which permitted the Austro- Hungar-
| ians to recover their lost territory in
! the Isonzo area and to drive the Ital-
ians back to the Piave. Since The vic
tory of the central powers in Italy,
Austro- Hungary has become increas-
| ingly reluctant to continue the war.
Rioting has occurred sporadica1ly in
| Vienna and many other cities, but as
yet, nothing suggesting a direct revo-
| lutionary success has occurred.
| The stro-Hungarians unQuestion-
ably have become the most war weary
| of all the peoples in the conflict dur
| ing the past year. Hunger has pinched
| them with special severity. largely be-
cause of their lack of capacity for or
ganization. Fearful OLA collapse in
the Hapsburg empire. the German
government has appeased the hunger
| rioters by sending them food from
Germanys own scantyf store. This
measure, however, can only be EN-
porary. When Germany no longer /.
able to send grain to Vienna, there viii
come an intensification of the straiI
that may compel Austro- Hungary t,
JrOr ont af the