The Washington herald., 1918-07-20
Vienna Knows.

The German people may be ignorant of the
meaning of American Intervention the West
front, but the Austrians not. This much is
apparent from the excerpt from the Niennese
Socialist Journal Arbeter Zeitung, cabled from The
Hague yesterday. The paper says:
There is no doubt that more than million
American troops already have arrived in Europe.
This is feat Of organization amazing as the
creation OF the British army. American participa-
ton in the fighting increases the German task to
one of gigantic magnitude. 1t is easily under
standable that the German command is trying this
year to reach a great decision before the full
weight Of the United States is felt.
"The Americans transforming the situation
against which the entente found itself, in per-
ceptible manner every day, not only from polti-
cal but also from the military point of view.
"Al the American forces that are in France to-
day have been raised, trained and equipped in a
wear and half 1t is a fact without precedence in
history, for Germany is finding herself today con-
fronted with three states whose population is three
times superior to hers and whose talents for or
ganization and economic force equal to the
organization and economic power of Germany.
"The Germans are maintaining their positions,
but there is a limit to everything, and it can be
understood that the supreme command of the
German army is striving to obtain final decision
this year. 1t is now a question of doing this be-
io1s the United States is able throw the whole
weight OF her force into the balance for the Amer-
can transports into France increasing month
by month"
Here is clcar-visoncd statement OF thee ase,
and it is OF the highest importance that the true
state OF affairs has found expression within the
central empires. Berlin may still be blind. The
lunkers may be infatuated with the idea that there
is no limit to what German arms can do. But
cooler heads in Germany well in Austria
Hungary must now be assessing the situation as
it actually is is distorted through Prussan
eyes.
- Added to this generalization based the grow
ing power OF American troops in Europe must be
added the tangible proof OF their effectiveness as
revealed in the present counter stroke. The Ger
man official communique has not yet mentioned
the Americans in connection with it. We doubt,
however, if the German government despite its
utmost efforts will be able to hide the true facts
from the people Of the central empires. The
"most cheering news the allied cause has received
since 1914" London newspaper puts it, is
the direct result OF American cooperation with the
French under the remarkable leadership of Foch.
There is no way OF concealing that fact perma-
nently, any than there is a way of con-
cealing the fact that the Ludendorff promise of
ending the before the winter is to be broken.
German spirits may revive at the that
comes from American shores regarding the cruiser
San Diego, but it is sorry consolation If German
sub blew up this armored cruiser within a short
distance Of New York harbor, it simply means that
another spectacular raid is in progress. A sub
marine raid on this side Of the Atlantic can not
come within hailing distance of affecting operations
in France, OF stemmng the inevitable tide
against Germany. The Kaiser and his sycophants
may still cherish the hope that the strong right
OF America may be palsied by the submarine, but
they not much longer deceive themselves.