Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-25
Be of Brave Heart.

be or brave E1cdrts
This is no time for Americans and their allies to
lose heart There is always darkest hour just be
fore the dawn and everything indicates that We are
now in the midst of it, it will pass the allied
armies will be found still fighting and Germany will
be lust as far as ever-yes. good deal farther
from her goal world dominion.
The allies continue express the utmost conf
dence and this being the case, why should America
bleat? We have yet been even scratched.
In order to comprehend the true significance of
the the fighting front it is well to remen-
Der few things which the German is now doing
his best TO make forget One thing we should
bear in mind is the calculations of the Hun, at
least the western front, have gone awry just as
often as have those of leaders of the forces
posing him
Do we not recall the Marne when comparative
handful Of British stood like adamant against I'M
mensely superior numbers of the enemy and turned
the triumphaI progress of the invading hosts into
retreat? Al that time the defenders not only were
outnumbered, but the advantage in equipment and
training was overwhelmingly against them. Now the
British French and Americans have approximately
as many men and about we'll trained and
equipped as the armies that arrsyed against
them.
Then there was the effort to strike through to
Paris at verdun. which the Germans undertook with
supreme confidence, and into which they brought all
the and resources they believed would be neces-
u sary Everybody knows the history of their failure
The submarine expected bring victory to leu
ton arms in few months but it did not
1t must not be forgotten that the Germans
stalking their all this drive F1guratively speaking
they have burned all bridges behind them. In other
words, the kaiser has promised the people victory
knowing that If victory does not come the autocracy
is doomed The stage was carefully set for psyche
logical effect upon both sides. The Teutons were
worked up to fanatical fervor and sent in to battle
10 the death. The plans of the high command were
exploited abroad and repetition which was caleu-
lated to impress the weaker the allies and
reduce their powers of resistance. Hints of
beevably destructive new devices to be employed
dropped and to back them up the time that
blieved the world would be most impressed the
new concealed behind the lines turned loose
distant Paris Perhaps there will be other i'm
plements of the nature but if they
effective than the long range rife their effect will be
negligible insofar the allies permit them
work upon their emotions
Probably at time during the last years
have not the allies been in position to DO what
the Germans doing today and with results at least
equally striking. The reason they did not do
because they knew the unwisdom of putting their
whole force into offensive which would leave them
spent and with greatly weakened resistance. No
gle blow could have the for the allies
and lie equally out of the question for the German
to decisive thrust now. Even should France
be the United States and England would
10 be dealt with.
But France will not be overrun It all comes
down to question of human endurance Soldiers
fight only long their strength holds and
the strongest quickly down under the terrific
pressure OF modern battles. The initiative rests
the offensive and the farther is carried greater
The difficulties to be met So have every reason
TO put faith the statement from the British that
their armies not being defeated but merely
following calculated to infict the greatest
possible losses upon the foe and subject him to
wearing down process which eventually is bound to
bring him TO a halt, physically exhausted with sup
plies reduced and morale subject rapid deterora-
lion the moment the common soldiers and the people
behind the lines learn that the promised victory is
40 than It before.
Whatever happens in America must not lose
sight Of our duty We are the war to win and win
we must If it takes last dollar and our last man
No price is too fearful for the ideals have
entered the war 20 uphold. We have never bowed
our heads to a foreign potentate and shall never
And we IN this war, forced upon until the
last ounce of energies is expended, the last re
source and the last copper spent drop
blood is shed.