The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-11
the gain of few plots of ground
soaked with German blood.
TT 9 the Strouuect Nation

? BACK or the BrltlSn ana TIcHCH di
mics is the United States, the rich
est and strongest nation i'll tn
world, its manhood fresh and cage
for the fray, and its people able, /
, need be. to maintain an army o
100000 in the field. properl,
equipped for war Germany cal
hold nothing she has won on th'
; cast front, in the south or in thu
west, unless she can defeat tht
United States. 1t is no wonder tha
she lashes her generals to action
hoping to break down England ant
France before the United States i,
in position to be decisive factor il
the fight.
For many centuries Flanders has
been called the cockpit OF Europe.
Austrians, Spaniards, Germans
Frcnchmen and Englshmen have
fought across its meadows since be
fore the dawn of the Reformation,
/ but all of them have not wrought
as much havoc as Germany wrought
in not quite four years. German
desperation is clearly revealed in
the threat against Holland, which as
cockpit has record second only
to that OF Flanders. Slightly more
/ than 100 years ago Napoleon
claimed Holland on the theory that
the country after all was only the
deposit of the Rhine, and now Ger
many threatens it because in her ex-
tremity it IS important that she find
a better outlet for her men and sup
plies into Flanders than is afforded
by her present restricted railroad
facilities. If the British and French
can holt cir lines, even if they
Civ ere and there, until
.I,ricau iorces arrive. the jig
ior Germany will be up; and that
they are to hold there is every rea-
son to believe.
Interpret Reports Broadly.
The more important thing, there
fore, is to interpret the daily war
reports broadly. IIaig may give
ground, but as long as his lines are
intact he is not defeated. And back |.
OF him stands Foch the master
strategist of the war, with reserves
that will be used when the proper
times comes.
1t is possible, although not yet
probable, that continued British re
tirements will lead to a ministerial
crisis in Great Britain. The factions
seem to be lining up for an attack
upon Lloyd George. That part OF
the war office which has sympa-
htized with Gen. Sir William Rob
ertson may try to lay the blame for
British lack OF man strength on the
shoulders OF the premier, saying
that if he had not evaded the issue
of Irish conscription and kindred
difficulties until the enemy began
the present terrific pounding, there
would be a different tale to tell. 1t
would be unfortunate if these old
fires Of British partsanship should
flame up afresh, and until they do so
this country will hope that Lloyd
George will not have to face a par
liamentary crisis in addition to other
worries.
Is This Ministry Responsible?
Whether the present ministry is
responsible for the present condi-
ton Of the British armies only the =
future can disclose. Possibly it
might have been well to meet Irish +,
,ouscription squarely before this, r
although it is doubtful whether it i
,ould have been put through with
out eyoking dangerous political re-
actions in all parts OF the empire II
and particularly i'm the United Il
States, where every professional h
and Sim Fein agitator h
would have improved the opportu- h
lity to stimulate disloyal and enc
ny propaganda. Looking at the \
'aSc impartially, il has required b
;rcat national emergency to justify $,
liberal ministry i'm throwing the n
whole Irish question into the cruci- n
lie OF war.
From British authorities now in b,
he United States We have learned $
ne reasons for British decline OF
nan power British dead in the G,
.ar, Tor instance. now number more NJ
han 100000, while the permanently x
ripplcd are numbered by the mil SC
ons. In addition. British troops m
ave been used freely in Mesopo- aC
lmia. Palestine, throughout Africa tn
nd at various points along the az
orth shore of the Mediterranean. su
or many years the historians will
ScuSS the question whether these er
r-tung fronts have been worth Ii
hi'c. Just now the British West
ners.' who have always insisted te
the concentration of British "
rccs in France, have the better of
e argument. 1t is these West pl
ners' who viii make anv political Fl
ou5lc that may come to Llovd Ia
gorge. Ii the present ministry
IS made a mistake in policy. it can
aim to have followed the outline
the war as made by Lord Kitch- bo
er who planned defense of the -,
1pire and did not favor the CON s.,
ntration OF troops on the western -
lTf n ffrnsuar q. mon .,.-.,. 80. tii'