The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-26
YANKS ARRIVE
IN FIFTH YEAR
Probably Turning Point in Modern
Civilization When United
States Troops Reach
France.
BEGINNING OF THE END
German Leaders Taking Increasingly
Grave View of Situation and
are Less Boast
E,SNSE&

/ fo''
/ ,g1Nsst
lBy J. w. T. Mason, United Press
War Expert.l
| Copyright, 1918, by the United PressJ
NEW YORK, July 25.-The fourth
year of the war is ending with the
strategic initiative dramatically re-
stored to General Foch along the
Marne, following Americas first CO.
operative engagements with the al
lies.
The turning point in modern civili-
cation viii probably be dated by flu
ture historians from the year of
strife now closing, because OF Ameri-
cas- resolve to consent to no peace
until the Hohenzollern menace to the
world is crushed Despite the fact
that American troops have played
only minor part in the years fight
ing, the United States has predomi-
nantly influenced the strategy of the
fourth year of the war. The out
standing battlefield facts of the year
have been Won Hindenzurg's mad
dened efforts to break the British and
! French fronts, and General Foch's
counter-policy of patient defense.
Hindenburg's Motive.
| 1t was fear of America fast &C
cumulating military strength that
compelled Won Hindenburg to engage
IN his campaign of ruthless sacrifice
ing his own troops; and it was the
knowledge of the overwhelming re-
Inducements America was sending to
the allies that permitted General Foch
to see his lines driven back without
loss of morale to the allied forces.
Every major plan worked out in Ber-
allies this year. has similarly been
based fundamentally upon Americas
Forthcoming major activities in the
war.
The necessity for these plans was
fully justified at the first serious en-
counter between the Americans and
the Germans, which occurred eleven
days ago south of the Marine, oppo-
site Jaulgonne. Won Hindenburg's
fifth offensive was shattered by the
American counter attacks, which
forced the Germans to retire to the
north bank of the river. The Ameri-
can success was especially significant
because it was the first time American
officers and men had been tested in
the diff cult tactics of counter as
saults. Following this early promise.
the Americans contributed similarly
effective aid to General Foch's eau
tiouslv developed drives between the
Aisne and the Marine, which are sun
proceeding.
The American successes during
the year in Picardy and IN the
Chateau Thierry sector, have been
minor affairs, regarded as isolated
engagements. But all the victories OF
Won Hindenburg in Flanders, Plcardy
and Champagne do not compare IN
their ultimate consequences with the
promise to world democracy con-
tained in the American operations at
Cantipnv. Belleau Wood and VauX.
Prussian Threats.
Starting the fourth year of the war
with arrogant threats to the alles
of new changes in the map of Europe
unless the successes OF the German
armies were accepted as decisive, the
German government has ended the
wear by confessing that battleheld
victories cannot bring peace. Foreign
Minister Won Kuhlmann's pronounce
ment to this effect in the reichstas
ranks second only to Americas I'M
mcnses war preparations as the year
most significant event. he reluc-
lance OF the kaiser's militarlsts to
compel the resignation of Won kuhl-
mann Immediately after his repudia-
tion of the invincibility of the Ger
man army is indicative of the sober
inc effect the presence of a million
American troops in France is having
even in Won Hindenburg.
Won Kuhlmann's eventual retire
nent was a desperate expedient to
stem a decline in German morale due
to his speech.
It is apparent that as the fifth year
If warfare begins, the German lead
ers are taking an increasingly grave
view of the situation facing them.
They dare not promise a decisive VIC
tory to the kaiseer's deluded SUBJECTS
anv longer. The people of Germany
are being prepared, in fact, for the
assumption of permanently de1en-
sive role by Won Hindenburg. This,
although the fourth year OF conflict
has seen Won Hindenburg display an
UNPRECEDENTED degree of power in OF
fensive warfare, nevertheless, the
wear ends with an admission by. the
German government that by these
means peace cannot be won. In that
fact is the certainty of ultimate VIC
tory for democracy.
Dual Monarchy See This.
Affairs in Austro-Hungary during
the past year have been highly unsat-
isfactory to the Germans. The people
of the dual monarchy have shown no