Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-23
4 Decisive Situation

War ANALYSTS all agree that the situation now
developing on the western front marks the passing
of the initiative from the Kaiser's armies TO the
AIies-a fact of tremendous import to German
morale and of decisive bearing the entire future
course of events.
The powerfully effective counter attack OF the
Americans and the French on the Aisne-Marne
front draws especial significance from having been
launched in the fiery outset of the enemy's fifth
offensive his movement against Rheims. Whatever
strategic purpose that movement may have held
has been overwhelmingly defeated before it
was fairly under way II its purpose was to facili
tate an advance upon Paris, its failure is glaring
indeed for the developments of the past week have
made the defense of the approach to Paris more
than ever formidable II its purpose was to divert
Allied troops from vital sector against which
Ludendorff planned to hurl huge masses of his re-
serves it is a failure still glazing, for without
weakening any of their points of crucial Defense
such as Amiens. the Allies have compelled the Hun
to sacrifice tens of thousands of his reserves in
vain attempts to stem the Franco-American tide.
Thus has the enemy's fifth offensive, which
he staked desperate hopes, been turned into one
of the direst reverses of all the war. Whether he
now settles into a stubborn Defense attempts
other forward movements of more or less ambi-
tious scope the likelihood is that he will never re-
gain the aggressive strength or spirit manifested in
the first four phases of his 1918 campaign in the
West Ere long. unless all omens fall his course
will be toward the Rhine slowly perhaps, but inev
itably.
What this means for German morale and for
the final trend of the war may be inferred from
the desperate character of the Kaiser's five
onensfves since March. Emerging from the hard.
grim fourth winter of the war. the POtsdam Gang
realized that they must seize victory before the
snow fell again. or face disaster. Season after
season year after year, they had been promising
the German people a military triumph and a
hugely profitable peace. How would their sub
iects take another winter of disappointment and
furnishing hardship? Whence would they procure
reserves to nil out depleted ranks if the conflict
stretched bitterly into the year 1919? What
homes of a Hohenzollern peace would they have
unless they could win decision before the
Americans arrived in force, else trick the AL
lies into d sort of Brest-Litovsk conference? Con-
fronted by these menacing questions, the
lords mustered all their available resources, in
Guiding the great majority of their troops on the
Russian front, for a supreme offensive in the
West And this time, they solemnly proclaimed,
victory would be certain swift and all decisive
What then will be the mood of the German peo-
pIe if that supreme effort, after months of enor-
nous sacrifice. turns out failure? 1t is already
a failure. is it not? Indeed if the present trend
continues the great offensive will become a great
disaster.
The effect on German morale. the morale of
the army and the people alike, will be that of a
sharp awakening from illusion, violent reaction
from giddy hopes despair. This will not come in
a moment; it will not come in a month or perhaps in
a single season; but it will inexorably and at
last overwhelmingly. What witness is
the beginning The conclusion, we shall see as a
compIete incontestable victory for Allied arms
and Allied ideals.