Evening journal., 1918-07-22
BY HENRY WOOD
nIted Press CORRESPONDENT

Copyright, 1918. by the United Press.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES II
THE FIELD, July 4 (by mail. .)-Th,
fourth year Of the great war must ir.
revocably pass down in history as the
year in which the genius OF IN,
French race, rising 10 new heights ir
the vigor and virility Of its armies anC
In the soundness and brilliancy of It's
generals, was conceded through the
sheer force Of superiority alone the
recognized military leadership OF the
Allied nations.
The fourth year Of the great wa.
must always be marked by the fact
that France, sending her armies 10
light on the Macedonian and Italian
fronts, bearing the great shocks and
illilng up the breaches and gaps on
her own front, and sending scores OF
her best generals and thousands OF her
Dest officers TO all parts OF the world 10
import her military science TO all OF
tne Allied nations assumed at last the
dominating, controlling role in the di-
rection OF the worlds struggle for hui
mainly and civilization that could only
De assumed by and conceded TO the
nation showing the greatest genius, the
greatest fitness and the greatest supe-
riority.
This triumph was all the more re-
markable in that IL came at the mo-
ment when France was generally con-
ceded and believed to be at her lowest
extremes. lt constituted in fast the
rising OF Phoenix from her ashes al
most without parallel in the worlds
history.
But remarkable as this war, IL was
even more important in the fact that
not only was France able to do this at
a moment when her own fortunes were
lowest, but at a moment when the
fortunes OF the entire Allied cause
through the Russian catastrophe. the
italian misfortune and the Rumanlan
tragedy had reached their lowest ebb,
and where the moment called for some
one or something to step In and stem
the tide.
France, after three years OF warfare
In which she had suffered losses ex-
ceeding those OF any other Allied bel
ligerent and in which she had mao.
sacrifices out Of proportion to her re-
sources, apparently had very little left
TO offer In this emergency.
What little she had, however, she Of
fered freely and backing It up with
the fullest genius and generosity Of
her race. that rose TO new heights In
his great year OF appalling crises, she
llled every breach that was made In
he Allies fortunes and tided over the
TO the present hopeful pros
lect, which with its unity Of military
command and Americas contribution /
beginning 10 measure up 10 her full- |
st possibilities, Is now opening ahead. |
II Years Beginning.
When the fourth year OF the great /
var opened August 4, 1917, France and
Ter Allies were already in the throes /.
" the various catastrophes and crises /
With which the year was replete. The /
sussian revolution had already reach /
d a point where the Allies were fore
d TO realize that they must count
Ipon the complete elimination Of Rus
Ia as military factor-the elimina- ]
ion in fact Of what for three years had !
leen their greatest hope.
Largely as a result OF this Russian 1
efection, the Allies big military plans |
or 1917 had only reaped very par
lal success and the French armies es-
lecially had unquestlonably received /
severe blow 10 their morale by the
alllng OF OF the April offensive on |
which not only the army but the en-
Ire French nation had pinned hopes
ihich up until that time they had
ever dared even to entertain.
Yet so quickly did the genius OF the
rench race respond to the critical sit
alton thus created. TO the period Of
isis already opening for the entire
,urth year OF the war, that on August
the very opening date Of this fourth
EAR, a French army was ready to CO.
oerate with the British armies for
sneral offensive in Flanders. This
title lasted for several months and
ifs duration the French
my fighting on the English extreme
n won the unstinted praise OF the
lglish high command which openly
clared that not only did the French
my throughout the entire battle con-
Ter It's objectives in every attack, but
almost every case exceeded them,
ID from the very first day Of the bat
} TO the last, kept their line so far
lead that the English were never
,liged to wait for the French to
up their line with them.
While this battle was still in prog
SIS the French high command pre-
red and staged another great attack
Verdun on both sides Of the Meuse,
hich, launched on August 20, finally
rried the French lines at practically
cry point back 10 what they were
fore the launching OF the Crown
ince's great suicidal attack OF Feb
ary, 1916.
With this victory achieved but with
we're fighting still going on day aud
yht along the entire Nerdun front
an effort on the part Of the Germans
get back some Of their lost positions,
) French command prepared and
Iged still another equally important
d brilliant affair.
ever since the final conquest OF the
eater portion Of the Chemin -des
mes by the French in May, 1917,
-ere battle had ragged there contin-
usly for the lnal possession by either
, French or the Germans Of the
nous ridge. II was necessary TO put
end to this by driving the Germans
ok TO a point where they could no
ger keep up their day and night at !
ks. :
The attack was launched on October
with Fort Malmaison as one OF the