The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-08-15
KEEP UP
DRIVE ON ENEMY
SITUATION ON BATTLE FRONT
MOST ENcoURAelNe FOR
ALLIED SIDE
AMERICAN GRAND ARMY IS FORMED
United States Takes Full Rank With
other Nations In Occupying And
Fighting Front Line Area

The situation on the western battle
front is more encouraging than ever,
and the retreat of the Germans keeps
on with varying haste from day to day.
In order to save possible humiliation
reserves have been thrown in at cru
cial points and serve to show that the
German staff is still full OF vigOr Of
resources and skill. Credit must be
given to the enemy for the ability with
which he has kept the armies on the
Somme and Marine fronts from utter
with the Allies, the fact remains that
the German is far from beaten as he
must be before the end of the war
can be looked for. Though the en-
envy has lost the ground gains of four
months in the past three weeks and
has given one million men to pay the
toll, yet their stubborn resistance
serves at times to hold our forces
back and indicate that they can yet
fight when in a desperate corner.
Notwithstanding their violent counter
attack and stands, the Allies have
been making way on all Of the fronts
from Ypres to the line around Rheims.
Slowly at times, rapidly at others, our
boys have gone on from one success
to another. In the fighting on the
Picardy front the Americans have
taken less part than on the other
lines of battle, but their service here
has been important.
The United States takes increased
standing in the allied ranks by organ
izing the first American Field Army
of five corps, all at present under the
command of General Pershing, the
commandments. This means that
1,250,000 American soldiers are now
aligned as an army in occupation of
a definite line on the battle front.
From reports, this line is southwest
of Rheims and extends to the Swiss
border. 1t is the old line on which
the French formed for an advance
on Germany before the fighting was
transferred to Belgium and northern
France. 1t is the shortest and most
direct route to Berlin, the most nat
ural and offering the least natural diff
ficulties. 1t is the logical point from
which the Allies should start their
great offensive and is today the place
of honor at the right of the whole bat
tie front. The present campaigns in
Picardy and on the Marine aim at
throwing the German back until he is
placed in a position for a general ad-
vance to thrust him back into his own
country. Foch having shown that he
could wait until the time comes. is
evidently now arranging the chess
board of war for a drive which will
alter the German plans most decisive
ly. The initiative has been taken from
the foe, and with the advent OF new
troops daily from America, it is reas-
OiS W ouPPOoC thdI Luc ScHtTdIIS~
simo of the allied forces will never
allow him to regain it. The defen
sive has never been the strong point
of German warfare and only when
they held the supremacy of numbers
have they been able to demonstrate
the fiendishness Of their power. The
end has not yet been reached by a
long ways, but barring some great
disaster to the Allied cause, the end
is in sight, though a long distance off.
We are going to lick the Hun, and
every word from the allied line tells
that it is the spirit animating our sol
diers. But no let-up must be per
permitted in the support we give.