Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-03
Value Of Prompt Allied Triumph

IN all this the influence OF the
United States viii be incalcuGahle,
Never has Washington had such pow
er ana never has a president had so
much prestige by laying down gcl-
cral prime pies OF Just p a." d. rec
?uslnr 20 attempt definite coWUI mcnts
as to territorial claims--of many p'
which II Is impossible 10 reach amy
thing more than geNcrJ 0pp?CN ",a-
ton to iusttce--the presiGoHt has as
sumed the highest Leadership in world
politics.
This leadership and the dis!a'crest-
ed attltudc-of the United States w,N be
dominant factors in the coofcronre
which must some day take place 10
restore peace to troubled world,
General Pershing has won tho re-
spect and admiration Of all by his
CAIN dignity and ability. llis order
placing the American units at tho d,s-
position Of the French command in the
critical days Of last April has made
him a most admired HEVrc. end he
can, | am sure, count upon the COM
plcte and hearty cooperation Of our
allies.
Il was fortunate enough to hc per-
mitteG 10 visit the hat,lCielGs J spent
the night IN an u'i fr.ead-a Major
General commanding splendid diNi-
sion of Puritan NriGia now in France,
The day after big battle / went over
the field with him and saw the German
machine gun improvements and ar
rauScments that lead 10 such severe
rear guard actions and such severe
losses. The dead were not all yet
buried ana the field presented a
cruesoule aspect. Machine guns, cart
ridges. clothing. helmets left by the
enemy, were everywhere. The woods
through which the American forces
had advanced were thick as jungle,
and how they advanced against ma
chine guns set deep in the ground and
also perched in high trees 10 not
know. But the courage and energy of
the American soldier know no end,
and the 1attledeid told the story.
Il had the pleasure of seeing many
OF our divisions arrive. The effect was
more like magic than anything | ever
saw. The sight of our young. alert,
well disciplined forces, am convinced.
greatly increased the morale and en-
thusiasm Of the French and British
veterans.
Il had the good fortune TO be at
Chateau Thierry just as the hoche
lines were rcceding therefrom, and
believe that July Is will pass into his
tory as day of maximum significance,
for on that day. by the aid Of our AM
criCan divisions which had just
reached the Marine. the hoche vas de-
tiDitely ana finally stopped and his
dream Of world dominion ended. our
troops arrived not a quarter Of an
hour too soon: the moment they de-
trained they went into battle.
The order to stand at all costs
was given and our men stood and re-
PEELED the final Hun offensive with COM
pIete success. although at great cost.
The Germans pursued their tactics OF
leaving behind machine gunners, who
dug into the ground and We're able to
inflict great losses upon pursuing troops.
Such losses could largely be reduced in
future by q much greater number OF
small tanks. They have been most sue
cessful in dealing with the machine gun
which has SO largely revolutionized tao
tics. The. canon Accomplishment, or
this
at was an Interesting experience to
have been in Paris during the three
fateful months from the beginning OF
the final German effort for world SUI
premacy on May IS. The situation
seemed in a degree even more critical
than just before the earlier battle on
the Marine of September. 1914.
One cannot too highly commend The
sangfroid of Paris. Though all realized
that Paris might at any moment be put
under Commandment of the great Ger
man guns and their beautiful city re-
duced to a mass of ruin. l saw never
sign of fninchiag. Paris was calm
and confident turnout the night at
tacks which lightened the sky with
flames.
CAT Amiens I found the city COM
plotely evacuated. and one went thru
its-silent streets with feeling of awe.
As if passing thru a city of the dead.
The cathedral had been hit nine times
and although one hundred shells d.
rected toward il had fallen around It.
only one shell had caused real damage
hy piercing buttress. All Of the valu-
able objects Of art had been removed
and the cathedral inside is even more
impressive IN its superb and desolate
dignity"
Still another aspect was presented by
Abbev!lle. in Northern france, which
also had been bombarded by airplanes'
Mr. Coudert said. There all OF the
houses near the public square had been
DESTROYED. and many other residences.
Aftho the inhabitants had lost their
lives during the frequent lombard
ments, they still returned to work dur
ing the days. Shops were open and