Evening star., 1918-05-19

its fighting prowess OF the personnel
minimized. The British and Americans
have been longing for the test, and II
indications are accurate that test is
One Of the chief reasons for believing
that Germany is to stake her all on
combined sea and land attack is the
fact that the German military war lords
preciable gains during the summer in
order to forestall outbursts Of discon-
tent over extremely curtailed food
stores during. the coming winter. The
people must be given hope from mill
tary standpoint Should the German
fleet score a victory over the Americans
and the British and should the armies
on land gain the channel ports the im-
mense sacrifices of human life during
the year possibly would be tep0 p0borarily
forgotten by the people. who would be
led to believe the claims of their mill
tary dictators that the allies were on
their knees. preparatory to complete
capitulation.
Though the artilleries of both Ger
mans and allies have been extremely
active during the
Situation on the past ten-day pc
riod. infantry en-
"eSI TionI' gagements of ma
jor character yet are to be delivered.
Allied commanders. however. have
improved their positions. both in the
Somme region and in Flanders, in an
ticipation of the great German often
sive which soon is to come.
Allies are cognizant of the tremen-
dous preparations of the enemy for
the renewed offensive. In addition to
reforming many of the divisions
which were badly cut up in the first
enemy drives. the Germans have
strengthened their artillery arms and
airrlane services. Many troops have
been brought from Austria, according
to late advices. and, in fact, every
thing has been done that can be done
in preparation for vital offensive
movements. Each day sees increas-
blows may come at any juncture
Though the allies are confident
that they will be able to turn back
the Germans they are not too con-
fident They are taking pains to see
that everything is in ship-shape be-
fore the enemy has time to strike.
Everywhere there Is a feeling that
the coming series of battles may be
decisive in character. This opinion
, most certainly prevails in Germany.
WhIIe the all1eS declare that II the
Germans are definitely halted as they
were in the first series of battles in
this years campaign, the allies. with
their tremendous reserve forces, will
be able to strike back quickly and
with telling effect.
X Z
Possibly the most significant thing
of the week in connection with the
m / c a n
U. S. Troops troops, now
Join the British. bat,,ss - ~ ths hs
| allies on the western front, was the
! announcement that American forces
| had arrived in northern France and
Flanders to join the British con-
tingents. 1t is not stated specifically
| that the Americans are on that sec
| tion Of the front between Arras and
| Ypres, but it is extremely likely that
| they are scattered here or all along
| the Lys salient, where the main Ger
| man efforts are expected to fall in
/ the immediate future. The announce
| ment indicates that the American
forces are those which only recently
| were dispatched from home and are
| not part and parcel of the first army
of Gen. Pershing. Americans by the
tens of thousands now are brigaded
| with the French and British. and it is
| announced that where Americans pre-