Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-14
THE WARS HIGH TIDE
Every Permanent Force in the World Is
With the Allies Against Germany

| THE war was never so complicated a
longer possible to obtain guiding impress
| sions from the battle actions alone. The
| silent reactions in Russia, in japan, in
Washington are growing to be as impor-
| tant in relation to the wars possible out
come as military triumphs or defeats in
| France.
Nothing is certain except that Ger
| many will lose. Civilization must 1Uin or
die. Prussianism must Uin or die.
The analysis of recent German strategy
by the military authorities at Washing
ton, who informed Mr.. Gilbert, the cor
respondent of this newspaper yesterday
that the Germans now have a definite
advantage of the French and British on
the southern battlefront, touches only
momentary phase of the situation. The
Germans hare had advantages before.
Yet they hare nerer Von decisive mill
tdry r,ctory in France.
Out of the ferment in Europe some
things come to the surface now and then
as unmistakable evidence of the drift of
affairs beneath. 1t is apparent, for in
stance, that the German attacks on the
lines defending Paris have had queer
sort of fury-a fury of the sort that does
not react from a sane impulse or conf
dent state of mind. There are fever and
frenzy in the war that Germany is
waging now. Her lines have been i'm
PEELED forward in narrow areas by a des-
peration suggestive of madness. The
German command has outdone its for
mer cruelty to it's men. The limit of
human endurance has been reached-and
passed-in the German armies and in
Germany. Bodies and minds can stand
no more. And get Germany has yet to
attain any one of the major objectives
chict have inspired all this sacrifice.
To any one who can think at all it is
now plain that the newest offensive had
one of two motives behind it. The Ger
man strategists may have wished to
draw the British armies southward-to
actually compel them southward-in
order to leave the way easy for lunge
at the Channel ports. Or, perceiving the
logic of this plan as it would appear to
the Allies, Hindenburg may have desired
to use it as a mask for sudden, leaping
drive at Paris.
But Paris itself is not military OBJ
jective of dominant Importance. Its loss
would not mean either defeat or confu-
sion for the French armies. And it is
not likely to be lost. In other words, the
Germans have not been rewarded by any
of the results they expected. So far
their drive has been wasteful failure
that will be remembered only because
the troops engaged in it were sent to the
most revolving slaughter of the war.
If German statesmen felt as secure in
Austria and in Russia as they pretend
to feel, it is not likely that they would
risk SO much for a quick advantage in
France. 1t is not likely that they would
talk of a sea battle. If the German COM
manders had any remaining hope of get
ting the Channel ports by land they
surely would not endanger their feet in
an insane effort to disorganize traffic in
the English Channel. The job could be
done much more easily from Boulogne
and Calais. 1t seems to have been the
conviction in Germany that the French
would risk even these ports to defend
Paris. In that assumption the Germans
proved themselves poor guessers.
1T is aceH to remember IN these dams
that there are just seventeen cents in
Germany for every dollar that Germany
o'oes. Germany must pl,.nder the acorld
or De bankrupt. One great setback for
Hsndenburg's armies in France is all
that is needed to throw Germany into q
detirium OF despair.
And if even the faith of Germans in
their Government would be shaken by
such defeat, what would happen to
opinion in Austria, Russia, Poland, the
Ukraine and in the other doubtful terri
tories where Germany has already set
up an imaginary sphere of influence?
is 1t too much to suppose that the
strength Of America, combined. in the
last pinch, acith that of japan. is not
adequate to hit the German arpy q bod,j
btow necessary to end its red career?