The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-08

however, that justifies downhearted-
ness. It is well to remember the old
saying, He who laughs last laughs
longest" Let Germany do what re-
ing. Germany is losing at least as
many and probably more men than
the allies. Britain and France can
supply as many recruits to fill the
gaps made by the casualty lists as
can Germany. Without the addition
Of any American troops the allies
should be just as strong, in proportion
to Germany, next year as they are this.
By April, 1919, there will be in France
well equipped and thoroughly
trained American army of at least
million fighting men, nearly half as
many men as Germany has on the en-
tire western front That American
army will be supplied abundantIy with
airplanes, artillery, ammunition, ma
chine guns and everything else that
goes to make a fighting force effec-
tive. It will be composed entirely of
young men in the prime of their
visor. in the pink Of condition and in
spired by an elan equal to that pos
sessed by the best French troops in
the early months of the war.
When America Gets In.
When that new American army, CO.
operating with the French and British,
strikes, Germany will know that
something has happened. The condi-
tons of this year will be reversed. The
ally and the German will be forced
to retire wherever his opponents
choose to strike. The war may not
end with a decisive allied victory in
1919, in fact it IS almost certain that
it will not unless Germany collapses
Unexpectedly, but there is every indi-
cation that 1919 will be the really de-
cisive year and that long before it is
over the German will have given UP
his dream of victory and will be
fighting a forlorn hope to save what
he may from the wreck Of his am
billions
For the present we must content
ourselves with the role of the defen-
sive- During the months to come our
chief anxiety will be as to when and
where the German will strike next and
how much ground he VIII, gain
The Present situation.
At present the German holds three
rather sharp saIients that he has driv-
en- into the allied lines One is just
south of Ypres in Flanders, another
is in Picardy and the third extends
southwark from the Aisne to the
Marine. Between these rather sharp
wedges are wide rounded salients held
by the French ana British with some
American troops. These wide salients
are comparatively easy to defend, but
the pointed wedges held by the Ger
mans are precarious and very difficult
to hold Wherever the next attack
may fall. It is reasonably certain that
before the summer is over the German
Will make a desperate attempt to wild
en- out these wedges and narrow down
or drive in the salients held by the al
lies If the present Conformation Of
the front should stand until next year
the German offensives of this year,
instead OF lettering his situation, will
have left him in a perilous and ex-
tremely vulnerable position.
Jaws Reach for Paris.
There IS one feature of the situation
that is especially interesting. The two
big wedges that the German has driy-
en- into the allied lines form the two
jaws of one Of Hindeuburg's famous
nut crackers such as he used in TAX
ing Warsaw in the summer of 1915.
The points of the jaws are not yet far
enough extended to close on Paris.
even if they could be brought together.
but by driving them a little farther
into France the German command
would be in a position to attempt a
repetition of the strategy that took Po-
land and broke the power of the Rus
sian armies In 1915.
Danger Not Great.
The wedges at present are too mar
row, however. to be used effectively
and they are out 6anked on the out
side of the Jaws in a way that would
man. should he attempt to close in
on Paris from both sides. Moreover.
French morale is very different from