Evening star., 1918-08-25
ALLIES NOW HAVE
GERMANS IN HAND
Enemy, 0utcIassed in Num-
bers and Spirit, Lose
Hope of Victory.
AMERICANS DASH TELLS
nv THOMAS M. JOHNSON.

ny THOMAS n. JOHNSON.
CabIexrsn to The Sunday. Star ana
New York Sun. Copyright. 1918.
PARIS, August 24.-"The tide has
turned. at last; things are coming our
vay" These have been the words Of
the allied leaders both political and
military; these have been the words
of the French. British and American
soldiers during all this recent fight
ing.
Everywhere the feeling prevails that
the Germans last hopes of winning
the war, reaching Paris OF the channel
ports have been dashed to the ground
BY the succession Of stunning blows
delivered by the allies since July H.
4 Face Two Alternatives
Nov: me 1srmans find themselves
facinE two alternatives. They must
either 20 definitely on the defensive
along the western front. as they were
in 1916 and 1917. or withdraw to a
shorter line, thus freeing more troops.
The latter course might enable them
to make a short fierce attack this
fall and to gain enough ground and
at home through another winter. but
It carries no hope of accomplishing
anything decisive.
It seems, indeed. that the much
heralded plan of the Germans,to win
q complete victory on grand scale
fore the American troops could make
themselves felt. must be given up.
Four important facts stand out in
the present situation First, the Ger
mans have lost their numerical su-
periority. Second. the Germans have
frs< ~ 1,,x
lost their mass of maneuver Fourth.
they have lost good share of their
offensive spirit
Based on Excellent Authority.
Those statements are all based upon
excellent and varied authority. The
exact extent Of the present allied
numerical superiority cannot, of
course. be stated. On March 81. how
ever. when the first big German at
ority was about thirty-five divisions,
the equivalent OF about twenty Amer
lean divisions. We have sufficient
divisions in France to add to the in
creased strength tof the British due
to their rigid fombing out of all
available men 1t home and in the
abundant fruit.
With the allies on the offensive and
Able to deliver a powerful attack vir-
tually wherever and whenever they
desire with their numerical superior
aty. 1t Is evident that the Germans
have lost their initiative, especially as
they have lost their mass of maneuver1
which means superabundance Of di-
visions available for offensive action
on those @ % sSinss whas en IS aa the Germsg
mass of manetlver now?" He replied
with one word. mil" The Germans
have behind their fighting line be-
tween seventy and eighty divisions,
can be rated as fresh. The remainder
are SO shot up and tired out by months
Of campaigning that they cannot be
used for some time.
"Burns Out" His Troops.
By far the greater part Of these dis.
abled troops were burned out" in the
crown princes ghastly failure of July
Is, when he tried to reach Paris. and
in the retreat to the vssle, which fol-
lowed. On the eve of the fiasco the
German mass OF maneuver was some
fifty divisions. all fresh.
The allies have used up these forces
at a rate amounting almost to one di-
That the allied wastage has not
been SO terrific is shown by the fact
that they are still advancing. That
the German offensive spirit is waning
is quite patent to any one who has
examined the German prisoners taken
during the last month. =,
The morale is quite low, especially
among, the second rate regiments. but
even picked troops, while having
plenty Of fight still left In them. have
lost much Of their arrogant boastful-
ness and confidence in themselves and
in their leaders. III
Spirit Of Allies High.
on the other hand the spirit of allied
troops was never higher. That of the
Americans, which is almost too high.
prompts them to rush in where vet
erans fear to tread.
what has brought this about: First.
he ii said of all military success. must
he the fightinx qualities Of the SOL
i3iers themselves. So 1t is the noilu.
the Tommy and the Yank, who have
made success possible by their spiesH
TT Two 70 other ereat factors which stand
out are Foch and the dash OF the
Americana. II you want to hear praise
of the allied keneraIissin1o go to the
Xinericaf1 stan officers, who have had
Sofue INSIGHT into the manner IN which
he has handled the situation sface as
suming his great command. =
They know how. beginntng IN July.
xaHvntanueu ia .5e..tn r.ac.,