The Washington herald., 1918-09-09
Every Yard Of Ground Won
/. Means Lighter Burden
t for U. S.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE
Falsity in Hun Claim That
Surrendered Land
Is Waste.
WILL RELEASE COAL SHIPS
Capture of Lens and Other Mineral
Deposits viii Bring Relief
- to France. = .
WILL RELEASE COAL SHIPS

Every yard OF the allied troops
advance on the Western front. es-
pecially to and beyond the Hinden-
burg line, makes lighter the burden
OF the United States in the war.
While no capital has higher hopes
Of an early disaster to the German
war machine than Washington, the
economic victories that are being
registered almost daily by the re-
covery of terrain from German oc-
cupation are of paramount interest
to high officials.
Chairman Edward N Hurley, Of
the United States Shipping Board.
finds telling victory almost daily
in the progress of American. British
and French troops. The lines as
they envelop a town or a district
spell more to him than to the
patriotic citizen who sees in the ad-
vance merely the demonstration of
the courage and superiority of the
allied troops and the master
strategy of Foch.
The German high command. which
made the supreme effort and sacri-
fice at the. reckless expenditure of
lives to gain the territory which is
now being sullenly evacuated. now
puts forward the false claim that
the reconquered territory. and that
lying just beyond the present Ger
man line, is so withered by the
flame of battle and barren OF re-
source as to be OF no value to
themselves or the allies.
Hurley Sees Relief.
Chairman Hurley, faced by the stu
pendous task Of finding shipping to
transport the army of Goo809o Ameri-
cans to France. to support that army
and to supply food and munitions to
the allies. finds new and needed
strength for the allies in almost every
foot of reconquered territory, no mat
ter how the Huns have laid 1t waste.
The c6NtrIre of Lens. IL it has not
already been accomplished, is only a
matter OF a few days, and that will
bring the coal-bearing lands OF that
| territory within the allied lines. That
means the release Of shipping now
employed to transport coal from
Wales to France.
There is no doubt that the Ger
! mans viii make every effort to in
flict the greatest damage possible to
the coal mines which they have been
| operating for their own benefit, but
the coal deposits cannot be destroyed.
Rich Coal and Ore Fields.
Not far back of the Hindenburg line,
| and in the direction pointed by the
wedges now being hammered home by
the allied troops. lie rich coal and ore
| fields, natural centers of war industry
| and of railway communication. II
| these too. as seems probable. fall into
| the hands of the allied troops in the
present drive, one of the greatest
problems OF the war will have been
solved for the allies and it's burden
thrown upon the German high COM
/ mand.
Man-power has not been the one
great problem OF the war. and the
aid OF Americas strength In wealth
and resources was felt in the war long
before she had put a single division
in the field.
! Now the situation Is rapidly chang
ing. America is furnishing the man.
power needed for the fighting forces
the submarines are gradually being
| conquered; France can release from
her fighting lines men to dig for coal
| and iron. to man war Industries and
10 till the fields, and the tonnage that
has been supplying the necessary raw
materials will be released for the
longer routes Of trade that will bring
| ample supplies OF food and war mate
rial from ren1oter countries open only
| to the allies, and will permit the
United States to husband her re-
sources for her own fighting forces
and for the people at home...
The taking OF Lille will be the mas
| ter stroke of this all important eco
nomic side of the present campaign.
and by Chairman Hurley and other
high officials in Washington will be
regarded as great and final a victory
. as the great military disaster to Ger
many. which 1t will bring nearer than
ever befnra