Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-03

TANKS could not advance with safety.
The Americans more than fulfilled the
task assigned them. In fact they drove
n wedge into the German lines so deep
that they had to be halted In order to
give the French forces on either side
opportunity to catchiu UP. In this OPP
Grafton the crossing Of. the Ourcq was
one Of the finest strokes this open
fighting has accomplished. 1t Is a mat
ter OF pride in Iowa that the Iowa regi :
ment of the Rainbow division led In
this action. and while the Iowa boys
had gained fame in trench fighting.
they added to their glories. An OBJ
server Of this phase Of the battle says
that from the northern edge of tho
southern Ourcq plateau. crowned by
the forest of Fere, it was easy to see
what were the difficulties overcome.
Our men who crossed 1t call 1t n
Greek" The Ourcq Is about twenty
feet wide and four to six feet deep
and the Americans waded thru 1t I'M
der CALLING machine gun fire In about
two minutes.
There is another side to this feat of
the Americans and the Iowa boys. The
casualty lists of the counter offensive
have not yet begun to arrive, The first
Of these lists may be expected today or
by Monday at the latest They will not
only be large for one day. but for every
day the counter blow has continued
and will continue.
These lists. while not disportionate
to the size Of the recent fighting, will
be greater than any previous total re-
ported and will bring the war nearer
home to Iowans and to all Americans.
American casualties since its en-
trance into the war. to the end Of July.
total slightly more than $4,000 so far
announced
Compared with the French and Brit
ish the American losses are small.
Seven divisions and two additional
regiments are engaged. Counting the
replacement, units 1t is likely that more
than 100000 Americans have been in
action.
While the casualties now run or 3
per cent. IL Is regarded as likely the
possible, dead wounded. missing and
prisoners In the conflicts SO serious as
those in the Scissor Rheims battle will
run 10 per cent or more.
The report that Turkey has broken
with Germany still lacks confirmation.
Probably to date 1t is not true, but
based on conditions known to exist and
the growing certainty that Germany
and her allies will be defeated, it is
considered most likely the Turks are
looking for the easiest place to land.
The elimination Of Turkey would be
severe blow to Teutonic ambitions ana
would blast the kaiser's dream Of
Mittelcuropa and control Of Europe
ana western Asia from the Baltic to-
the Indian ocean. Turkeys deflectioh>
would hasten the end OF the war and
make the road easier for allied dicta-
ton in the balkans when peace finally
comes.
The assassination of General Won
Eichhorn. German commander in Tx
rainia, carries a lesson that Germany
should not be slow to learn. All Of
Russia Is seething with resentment
against German domination. The Teu-
tonic peace has brought no relief to
Russian industries, and the people
nave been robbed OF their foods, scant
as they were. Sporadic uprisings in
the various Slavic provinces are hound
TO keep considerable force of tho
German and Austrian armies busy. In
TACT Won Hindenburg has called for aid
to be sent to the western front and
Won Mackenson, in command in The
east, has refused to spare more men.
His refusal is an admission of the
menace Russia remains to the central
powers.