The Washington herald., 1918-04-19
The French Are In.

The FIRST fruit of the unity of command the
Western front has ripened. Fochs forces have been
thrust into least sector of the critical strug
gle in Flanders, and probably two. Gen. Maurice
now is able to answer the question which he pro-
pounded in rather limiting way yesterday-"what
is happening Blucher, what has become OF the
reserves"
The French have arrived at a time when the
objectives which Ludendorf has before him have
not even been halfway attained. The stiffening of
the British defense along the WytschaeteIBailleul
Hszebrouck line is attributable either to the fine
hand OF FOch to the arrival of re-enforcements
for Hag from across the Channel There seems
to be little doubt that the French are now operat-
ing in the region of Messines Ridge, just as they
Strengthening the equally important line guard
ing Lillers and Are directly westward of Givenchy
and ArraS. The dispatches yesterday showed clear
ly that the Germans utterly unable to reap
any immediate advantage from their occupation OF
Wytschaete and Meteren. The offensive practically
was at standstill Beyond doubt Foch furnishes
the explanation.
Perhaps it is premature say that the history
OF the second phase of the great battle merely
repeats the history OF the first phase But that is
the surface appearance Of things today. In both
cases the Boche made important and dangerous
initial advances. He smashed heavily into the Brit
ish defensive system along the Somme and Disc,
able force fighting in the open in both instances
He was able to threaten the capture OF vital juno
ton points, and by Of reckless slaughter OF
divisions able to write entirely chapter
of offensive warare-to break all records of rapid
gain OF terrain since the early repulse of the Teu
ton onslaught at the Marine in 1914.
But miss is good mile-and there is
not the slightest doubt that the enemy has fallen
far short of what he confidently expected to
II he Cd +be ,y;ta
back OF the network OF trenches, to destroy single
main railroad line pr other line OF communication,
to iorce Foch to d premature disclosure OF his
strategic program. Above ALL he has failed to
throw allied leaders into a panic caused a
weakening OF the inflexible resolve to see the
through to the end-the only end that it pos
sibIy have.
This is hasty recital OF what he has failed
to achieve On the positive side OF the ledger there
are a number OF things to be cngrossed First OF
all, Ludendorff and Hindenburg have brought
America into the war. Before this nation expert
enced the sinister thrill OF their challenge civi
cation four weeks ago, the war had penetrated
hardly below its cutice. America had read so
often of that impregnable Franco-Britsh line in
the West that it had lapsed into flabby and faccid
thinking about the military situation. The govern
ment yawned over the "alarmst and extremist"
groups who were urging 1t to speed up" What has
happened since then cannot De told IN detail, Dull
the main outlines ought to be known to every
Americans. We are more than dobling our trans
port of troops the battle line. We have found
shipping where the croakers told us there was
TO be found We have doubled the monthly draft
FOR the training camps, and talking OF hav
ng from two to three million men in France within
lhe next twelve months. We have called the master
.ndustriaist OF the country, Charles NJ Schwab, to
take charge OF the building OF ships. We draw
ing the line tight nonessential industries. on
.uxurcs, on imports and exports. We are just be
ginning to strip for a mans size fight.
That is the main achievement of Ludendorf and
Hindenburg to date President Wilson is now un-
.quiyocally pledged to force as the one means
of tanning the Prussian monster. The whole coun-
Try, at last, is thinking in military terms, and is
.nwrapped in the vision of American armies taking
a part in the great battle in France. At last we
IRE mcttc.
The Prussian militarists must be aware of what
mas happened, and not their boundless arro-
ganee can shield their minds from a realization Of
what it means to them when all the chips are in
md the final chapter is written. That realization
will goad them to orgies of slaughter follow
ing the new deadlock in Flanders, if deadlock it
proves to be. We need look for slackenng OF
he struggle 1t will increase in intensity until their
armies, like driven sheep, approach exhaustion.