The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-06

armies humiliated in the dust is the bitterest pill the HohenzoIlerns could possibly be made to swallow.
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 Another Debt
 Owed to France .N ENERAL PERSHING, in his re- NJ port on the operations of the United States army in France, throws light on the heavy obligations we owe to the French government for provid- ing tanks, artillery and airplanes, without which it would have been im- possible for us to begin fighting as soon as we did.
 Referring to equipment for our troops, General Pershing says:
 In order to meet our require ments as rapidly as possible, we &C.,
 cepted the offer of the French gov
 ernment to provide us with the necessary equipment of 75s, 155- millimeter howitzers and G. P. F.
 guns from their own factories for
 50 divisions. The wisdom of
 this course is demonstrated by
 the fact that although we
 soon began the manufacture
 of these classes of guns at
 home, there were no guns of
 the calibres mentioned manufac-
 tured in America on our front at
 the date that the armistice was
 signed. The only guns of these
 types produced at home thus far received in France are 10s 75-mil- limeter guns.
 The airplane situation was also bad. France supplied us with total of 2676 observation and bombing planes. All told, our army in France received from America but 1879 planes. It was not until August of this year that the first American air squadron complete ly equipped by American production crossed the German lines. We were almost entirely dependent on France for tanks, airplanes and artillery. Had it not been for the "most lib- eral attitude" of the French govern ment, Americas participation in the war might have been delayed until 1919 and the struggle might have still been going on. Our national unpre- paredness was at fault and while 1t is true we had about reached the point where we could supply our soldiers with all needed equipment from Amer ica, we might as we'll face the truth and acknowledge that the war was over before we had been able to fully equip our army abroad.
 Had it not been for our allies. it is painful to contemplate the showing we would have made this year. We got the men across and they were ready for battle, but it would have been suicidal to send them against the Germans without heavy artillery. tanks and airplanes in the quantity needed.
 Now that the war clouds have rolled away it is in order for universities to honor allied leaders. The University of Ghent has set the pace in conferrins doctors degrees on eight notables. in cludng President Wilson.
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 The Germans have been burning in eliminating state documents, a practice which dates back to the time when it first became possible for men to get themselves into tight place by making marks on papyrus.
 T~
 Stolen art works are being transferred from Germany to France and the bronze horses of St. Marks will soon be re- turned to their former position. The world is rapidly getting back to peace footing.
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 Vice President Marshall's status is still the same but he probably feels that grave responsibilities might rest on his shoulders if anything happened to the George Washington.
 < 4 <
 Maybe you didn't know, until Presi- dent Wilson delivered his address to Congress the other day, that a treaty with Colombia was hanging fire
 j. 4 4
 Loot from the Russian treasury amounting to 9Oo.o0Ooo0 francs. has been turned over to the allies. Sad news for the bolsheviks.
 Baseball players who fled to the ship yards have emerged from the war un- scathed and are waiting to hear from the managers.
 The crown prince says his soldiers loved him. They seem to have been able to part with him with considerable