The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-08-08

ar the western nations, the GloomieSt
/ the whole struggle. Is ending under
additions which are more favorable
nd give more real cause for optimism
ian any that have existed In the past
months. We are entering the
18th year Of the contest o with n
respect OF peace now or even within
Lee period OF another year, but under
circumstances strikingiy recalling the
1tuation after the first battle OF the
iarne. The second. and We may be-
ave the final, blow Of Germany has
ZEN parted, IL not broken. If we have
II brought the new Napoleonic edificc
the ruin of a Waterloo. there are
gns that the recent defeat may prove
4 some degree suggestive Of Leipsic.
The story OF the fourth year OF the
Guggle is measured by two major
vents: the collapse Of Russia and the
bming OF the United States. When
he year opened we were. all of us, still
Opfng against hope that the Russian
perations in Galicia might prove the
rst sign Of a renaissance OF Russian
tilitary power, and that Russia might
rpeat the achievement of the first
fench republic and, In defending the
berty Of the Slav world, contribute
Nightly to the salvation OF western
utilization.
But before the campaign had come
% an end Russia had ceased to be a
Military factor; treason and madness
lad done their work and hence the
~isIntegration within was to be rapid;
Shile German troops, released from the
asst, were to carry peril to the very
dye of Paris and threaten Sir Douglas
taig's mighty force with the fate which
ad beer prescribed for the 'contemp-
ible little army" Of Field Marshal Sir
ohm French in the opening days OF the
.Far. ,
The world, particularly the allied
world, was slow in perceiving what
we're to be the consequences OF the
russian collapse. When the full Ger
nan storm broke in March of the pres
mt year 1t took the allies by surprise,
md brought an unready coalition with
n measurable distance OF one OF the
.reat disasters of human history. But
when the March blow had fallen n
he extent OF the danger was perceived,
hen the wal became g race between
america II Germany, a race between
Iur young troops hurried across a
.jubmarine infested ocean. and the last
hover of German veterans thrown up
IN the allied lines in offensive after
Intensive, seeking a decision before
America came.
Lost Without America.
AS early as June OF 1917, when Nj
relies Aisne offensive failed, IT be-
tame clear that unless America came
I'D liz ISoCCS lhC wal VIVIAN w NN~
10 our allies and Germany would win
on the continent something recalling
Napoleon's success against Austria In
iSub. Prussia in 1906 and against Rus
sia in 1901. But what was not per-
eeived at that time was that 1t was
going to be q narrow question whetner
France, Britain and Italy could hoid
against our coming, and, blind to the
real facts, our coming continued to ask
real facts, our allies continued to ask
Of us material n money rather than
men, until the bitter awakening or
March transformed the Who'll situa-
tion.
The Russian revolution and the re-
vulting anarchy, which led to the de-
moralization of the Russian army, In
fact produced q situation In which
France and Britain could win the war;
1t produced a condition in which the
possibility Of a German success was
patent, at least 10 Germans and neu-
trails. 1t brought back the old prob
TEN of 1914, and in the next IL months
there Was to be repeated the herman
affort of tn Marine campaign. From
August, 1917, onward the German prob
lem and the German hope was to or
ganize a new blow which should crush
France and Britain before America
could arrive. as Germany sought to
crush them in 1914 before Russian OPP
erations in the east should demand
attention.
In a word, we went back suddenly to
the conditions OF the opening days OF
the war. BY he end of last year Ger
many was free to strike for Paris
again; before the campaign OF 1913 was
well opened the peace Of Brest-Lito-
vsls and OF Bucharest had eliminated
Russia and Rumania, abolished the
eastern front, given to the Germans
tho mastery of the Baltic and Black
seas. placed the kaiser's generals in
control Of the colossal Russian carcass
and removed from the eastern flank
of a completed Mitteleuropa the inme-
diatc menace Of Slavdom. The Teuton
seemed to have won his age long bat
tie with the Slavs, his way to tire Pa
cific lay Qpen while he still command
ed the Constantinople bridge to the
nearer east.
When the campaign Of 1917 was over
the German could calculate and do
calculate that he had, with hands free
and u concentrated upoI. the
western front, another chance to win
the war in the largest possible sense
to dispose. of France n Britain before
American was ready, and n to me-
gotiate a favorable peace with the
American foe.
Story Of Misfortune.
The story Of the campaign Of 1917
after August ], Is briefly told. Fol oui
allies it is a history replete with mis-
fortune. In August and September thu
brilliant but foredoomed Brusiloff Of
fensive in Galicia faded into TIT
shameful and indescribable flight o.
Russian troops from the field of vic
tory into the darkness OF demoraliZa'
tion and disintegratisn. There was
moment when 1t seemed as IL Lembert
was again in danger, we read the ole
names of towns and rivers. the scene:
of victories by the Russians in 1914
but in q few brief hours the Russian
offensive in Galicia succumbed to thu
internal diseases of the Russian nation
After August, in point Of feet, Russi;
was gone.
Meantime, in the west the British
offensive in Flanders pursued it's un
lucky road to complete failure. 1t hat
been the conception Of Haig and Rob
ertson. striking north from Ypres an
out of the famous old salient. TO breal
the German line. cut Oft the troops Oh
the Belgian ~eacoa or compel thei
retreat. free Ostend and Zeebrugge
abolish the submarine bases on thi'
coast and, pressing eastward throw tn
Germans behind the Scheldt and com
pei their later retirement out of Franc,
from the Lys to the Mouse.
In this effort Plumer a made
brilliant beginning in June at Messines
But in July and August Cough, late
to disappear as a result OF the Picard.