Evening journal., 1918-06-20
Uncle Harry Does Not Find the War Map DiscOuragng

When Uncle Harry entered the room
3 he found Helen and the two boys a
the table poring over q war map show
ing the positions Of the opposing ar
mics on the great western nghtlns
front.
Hello, Uncle Harry" said Joe. 'we'r'
glad you came, for we feel rather dis
couraged this evening"
"And why, may ask, do you feel
discouraged said Uncle Harry
Because OF what we see on this war
map" replied Jimmy "Since the Ger
mans started this great drive in the
spring, they seem 10 push the Allies
back for miles and miles whenever
they attack. At this rate, II looks as
/ though Germany would win the war"
"Tut, tutr' exclaimed Uncle Harry,
that's not the way for young Amerl-
cans TO talk these days. Don't you
believe for one moment that Germany
is going 10 win. There are a great
many very important points I'm cOnnec-
tion with these great battles that your
/ map doesn't show, the most important
things In fact And they're the things
I'm going to tell you about tonight"
Good" they ell exclaimed, drawing
up their chairs. that makes us feel
better already"
I'm the first place." began Uncle
Harry, "your map shows simply the
territory gained by the Germans and
nothing else, so you must not attach
too much importance to It. Let us
consider instead the objects that the
Germans had In mind when they start
ed the great drive, and whether they
are securing those objects. II they
have secured them or seem about TO do
so, then we will have reason TO feel
What the Germans Want To Do.
What are the German objects ?" hsl
continued THE Allied commanders /
are agreed that they are three: ITO |
cut a way on the north to the sea and
rapture the channel ports; 2-to open
road to Paris; 3-to divide, defeat /
ma demOralize the Allied armies. While
he German gains appear large on the
nap, thus far they have accomplished
lone Of these objects and do not seem
ikely to.
And It is because the German gem
'rals know that every day which
passes makes their chance for victory
10 much less that they have hurled
heir armies against the Allied guns
10 recklessly, and sacrificed so many
thousands OF their soldiers. The Ger
nan losses since the beginning Of the
present. drive in March are estimated
~ one French military critic at more
han half a million men. As I told you
n my talk a few evenings ago, the Ger
mans are using every ounce OF their
'ower to win a decisive victory be-
ore a great American army arrives on
he battle line and the odds become
and finally, against
hem."
What the Allies Are Trying TO DO.
And now tell us how General FOch, |
he Allied commander-in-chief, has !
cen trying to meet the German rush |
hats the part we're particularly inter-
sted in, said Helen.
And there's something else I want ]
know, too, Uncle Harry" said Joe.
The news dispatches always speak Of .
le Allies being greatly outnumbered !
the Germans in every attack. Is the =,
erman army so much larger than all u
No" replied Uncle Harry, but that =
not the point The Allies must keep n
rong forces all along the line, be- "
use they do not know at what point o,
e Germans will strike. The attack 3,
g force always has the advantage Of n
e surprise element. For instance. in aI
e last drive, where the Germans ad- :
need twenty miles to the river
lrne, they hurled against the Allies
1000 men, supported by artillery az
lks and machine guns" Of
But, Uncle Harry said Jimmy
low can the Germans mass such -
eat forces for an attack without be Y
3 observed by the Allied avialors ?" h
That's a good question, Jimmy, The 81
rmans have been bringing up Their
.acking forces by night marches and
ing the troops and artillery in the Il
time by cleverly contrived 'camou- a
&c, and I'm forests or other natural n
ncealment afforded by the country. n
And now, in answer to Helen's
estion as to General Foch's plan. He
ows that the saving Of the Allies q
mics is Of far greater importance
inthe holding Of ground, and has Op- a
sed the German advance iR each
Sc with just enough Allied troops to
event the enemy making any con-
ued progress after the first great
ce Of the attack has spent itself.
On the north, where the Allies are
nding, so to speak. with their backs
the sea, it is possible that they will
ID the line at all costs, rather than
NV the Germans TO reach Calais. Il
also probable that in the south the A