Evening star., 1918-02-24

year of the war, Notwithstanding the
fact that operations will more or less
he restricted to France. Flanders and
Italy. 1t now is absolutely plain that
the allies well as the Germans be-
leve the final result will be determined
through the activities during the next
eight-month period.
The feeling of confidence that the
Germans will be turned back in their
coming effort to smash through the al
lied lines is not alone held by the Of
ficers of the French. British. American.
Portuguese and Russian armies. but by
the men in the front line trenches as
we'll. There is no doubt, qualms.
Only is there complete confidence. The
entente soldiers are steeled to their
tasks by the conviction that unless the
allies do hold the enemy and in
f1ict upon him the maximum amount of
damage, thereby weakening his cour-
age and spirit, the allies will have to
fight much longer and much harder than
If they predominately establish their su-
periority during the next few months
On the British front in France and
Flanders the armies of Gen. Haig have
been reinforced. and this is indicated
by the fact that they have taken over
ian additional section of the western
front to the south of st. Quentin. per-
hitting the French to move further
southwark. presumably to the Cham
pagne region, where the French expect
the chief German blow. The British
have taken their new positions and are
ready for the enemy. In the more
northerly reaches of France and in
IanderS the SaIcc process of Stiffen-
ing has been carried out, not only from
the standpoint of numbers of men en-
ployed but guns as well. The British
have ,been concentrating on artillery
production during the past six months.
and they have adequate supplies of
cannon of all calibers. What is more
important, they have supplies suffi-
f.fa a ygen n 1T11Jf
under the most sustained character of
warfare. There is absolutely no ques-
tion as to British superiority in the
air. the Germans being almost COM
pletely baffied. The toll of German air.
planes leveled during the past ten days
is such as to give the German command
reasons to doubt his ability to succeed
in the British front, for it is pretty
well established that if infantry and
artillery succeed in any offensive the
airplane service must be of the highest
character.
Just as the bulldog Processes to ig
more the swapping and barkings of the
cur, just so do the British armies on
the west front profess their lack of con-
cern over anything the Germans may
attempt. The British, however, are not
SO cock sure of their task that they
have not taken avery precaution look
ing toward the Illustration of enemy
endeavor They simply say that such
endeavcr can achieve no results worth
while. This same spirit does not pre-
vail in the German armies, according
to the stories of prisoners. many units
lately expressing extreme skepticism
as to the claims of their officers that
all will be well and that this is to be
Germanys ''pulverizing year" in the
west.
>>nnot be denied that France has
suffered grievously from the stand
point of manpower in the present strug
gle. But France at no time has lacked
l a tire "a ordn ha rtafa rnaty
that her cause is just, and as long as
any nation imbued with high motives
remains steadfast, just so sure is any
enemy to be vanquished. During the
earlieN years of the war the French
were forced to combat the enemy on
| the greater portion of the western
front. Today the British have taken
over vast section, and the assistance
which the Americans will give will en-
| hance the French chances of offering
successful resistance to the foe French
concentrations can be effected quickly
while at the same time the extension of
the British line and the taking over of
! large sectors by the Americans will en-
able the French to build UP reserve
force of large proportions. The issue
cannot be lodged, reserve forces NAV
be the deciding factors in the coming
| struggle, for II is sure to be bitter and
| prolonged The French airplane service
. is as strong as the British while the
artillery sections of the French army
nave nave amazed the lighting men of the
whole world. France has DIenty of
guns. plenty of munitions plenty of
men and a courage which is noble
mere is no cause for worry over what
the French will do. One has. only to
hearken back to Verdun, where the
! French made such wonderful defense
/ against such odds. to find the panacea
LOT LOT all doubts as to French ability
, They snail not pass" the electrifyinp
! cry of French forces at Verdun in Ia1e
ana 1917. possibly will become the
/ MOTTO of all allied armies on the west
! ern 'front.' in the next few weeks, for if
,ne ,.,aa ailies th themselves do not strike for
, "ard the Germans are sure to.
american artillerymen already have