The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-26
HENRY CLEWS
weekly LETTER

The spring offensive has been sud-
denly opened on the West front By a
wide German attack upon the Brit
ish. the outcome Of which at this
writing cannot be measured. It is
known, however, that the greatest
battle in history is now in progress,
and that a final decision on the mo-
mentous issues at stake may or may
not soon be reached. The Germans
are making supreme effort, while
the Allies are well prepared and fac
ing the result with calm confidence.
More and more it becomes appar-
ent that Germany will not be able to
retain the territory she has overrun
and devastated. The enemys recent
successes in the East have only been
possible because of the feeble resist
ance offered; and along the West
front the Allies are growing stronger
daily and better able than ever to
meet Germany's renewed efforts. Am
erican soldiers are today going into
France with much greater rapidity
than supposed, so also are NUM-
lions. Our soldiers are close to the
border and may be among the first
to enter Germany. If this war is to
be a question of economic exhaustion,
Germany's end by that means cannot
be very far distant. Supplies of food
and minerals which the enemy can
obtain from Russia will not be of very
great relief, because the means of
transport are poor and Russia's own
food requirements are themselves
are great. AS yet Germany can place
no great reliance upon the submission
of Russia, which is still in a state of
anarchy, and Germany is not in strong
enough position to play the part of
rescuer. AS a matter of fact, Ger
many is in sore financial and econo-
mic straits. She is starved for cot
ton, wool, oil and rubber; and finan-
cially is on the verge Of bankruptcy,
if not already in that abyss Con-
trast this with the enormous and I'M
strained resources of the United
States, which alone are sufficient to
cast the die. 1t is only a question of
time when with the Allies holding
firm, they can overwhelm the Cen
trail nations. The power Of Great
spite of almost four years of hercu-
lean efforts Edgar Crammond, one
of the most conservative British econ
omic authorities, in recent address
showed that notwithstanding the
vast Withdrawals of 7,000,000 men for
army and navy her steel output has
increased from million tons before
the war to 10 millions after; coal from
PAT millions tons to 2S9 millions and
agricultural output from 20S millions
sterling to 400 millions. In addition
to carrying two-thirds of her own sea-
borne traffic, and one-half the sea-
borne trade of the world, she also fl
nanced more than one-half of the
worlds trade. In the meantime the
cost of living in Great Britain has de-
creased 10 per cent during the last
six months. Such is the record, and
the marvellous economic strength OF
cur principal Ally How long car
Germany wilfully close it's eyes to the
utter impossibility of fighting such q
combination as that of the United
States, Great Britain and France. Ger
many's defeat is inevitable; if not by
blows, then by an exhaustion thai
will require generations to overcome.
General business is remarkably
satisfactory, considering derange-
ments resulting from war. In a few
directions consumption is being cur.
tailed by high prices and enforced
economies There is also a decided
shrinkage in new enterprises, necessi
tated by the more pressing require
ments of war finance. On the othel
hand, all war industries are intense
ly active and are practically certain
to SO continue for a considerable fur
Their period. Today the nation'c chic
industry is war. We have one gu
preme object; that of defeating Ger
many; and we are pre-eminently alb
sorbed, not only in equipping and pro
yisioning our own army, but ais
those of our Allies who lean heayil,
upon the United States for materials
money and men.
More and more our industries ar
coming under government control
Each week sees an unwelcome bu