, 1918-10-03


line, were the centers of bloody COM
bats for days, and Fayet, only about
n mile and a half from st. Quentin,
also was the scene of terrific fighting.
BY taking SelenCy the French estab-
lished themselves in strong positions
two miles from the western environs Of
st. Quentin. 1t seemed evident that
Marshal Foch could capture that city
at any time lie wished, but at an eK-
PENS. in lives which he was endeavor-
ing to avoid by the slower method of
Investment.
The news of the week was so good
that 1t seems necessary once more to
warn the people of the United States
against undue optimism concerning the
early coming of peace. Allied COM
Inanders and statesmen agree in the
opinion that unless there is a sudde
and unexpected collapse Germany can
well hold out for at least another year,
and that we must make all our prepara-
lions for a war that will not end before
1920, IL then. Moreover, the prevail
ing idea that the morale of the German
soldiers has greatly declined is mistak-
en-. They are still in most cases fight
ing hard, despite their recent reverses.
and low morale is observable mainly
in prisoners, where 1t is to be expect
ed. Germany is by no means at the
end of her resources, the distance to
the Rhine is great and her resistance
may be expected to grow stronger, the
closer the allied armies get to German
territory. The final outcome, as has
been said man. times in this review,
is not in doubt, but the greatest blows
: for civilization and freedom are yet
: to be dealt.
s Imperial Chancellor Won Hertling,
addressing the main committee of the
reichstag, made a very blue speech,
admitting the deep discomfort of the
! German people and the gravity Of the
situation. His effort to defend the
government was regarded as a failure
and his own downfall was predicted.
Won Hertling made Il bitter attack or
President Wilson, and said that though
he had accepted the four principles of
n democratic peace laid down by Mr..
Wilson, the president had not deigned
to reply. This is false, as Won RertlinE
accepted only the first four of VIII
sons first set of fourteen planks and
then stated that Germany woul make
peace with each belligerent separate
ly md deal with Poland Independent
ly. The rest of the plankR he re
jected.
Hollands food situation haI become
so distressing that the Dutch cabinet
L. |r,tnr harl %, nffanf mn m
by which the offer of the United
States can be accepted. This. in q
word, is that foodstuffs will re sent
from this country, under guaranty
against their re-expOrtatioD. provided
Holland will send her own ships to
get them. The Dutch feel hat they
must first make an arrangement with
Germany and obtain n formal guaranty
that their vessels will not be sunk or
seized, for II they were she would
probably be forced into the war. II
is u difficult situation for the Dutch
and they are entitled to much sympa-
thy, but to Il great extent their food
troubles are due to the greed Of their
own food profteers, who for 4 long
time imported provisions only to sell
them to the Germans at extraordinary
prices.
TIT campaign for the fourth Liberty
loan of $6,OOO.O 100000 opened Satur-
day morning with immense enthusiasm
exhibited in every city, town and VII
lage Of the country. The people are
as determined as Is the government to
make this loan a swift and over~helm-
ing success, for they now fully realize
tina in thus lending their money to
themselves they are providing the
means of keeping the Huns from TAX
ing 1t from them by force. And that
is only the selfish part of their view.
They also know that the loan 10 vital
ly necessary to the salvrtiep Of hui
manity the world over.
BY concurring in the prohibition
amendment to the agricultural extern
sion bill the house OF representatives
last week made II certain thst the
country would be "bone dry" from July
1, 1919. until the war Ia over and b
armed forces demobilized. The manu-
facture OF wine will cease on May 1
next. The president already has or
dered the cessation of the making Of
beer after December 1.