The Washington herald., 1918-08-25
Nearest the Rhine. "

American troops again in action and score
victory; new man-power bill passes the House
with but two dissenting votes; announcement made
that 100000 of our soldiers are in France and
that our fighters are nearest the Rhine"
This is the blessed which you read this
morning, which will make every American
prouder than that he is an American, and
news which eonclusively spells Germany's doom.
Eagerly we have been waiting to hear that our
boys are again fighting and with the confidence
that they would fight they did on the Marne-
to victory We regret that there should be two
so-ealled representatives of the people who op-
posed the vital man-power bill. 1t is synonomous
to victory itself that 100000 American soldiers
are overseas, and we hope that Marshal Foch
sees ut to permit our troops to cross the Rhine.
After several weeks of watng-whch must have
been inpatient waiting-for the command go
Americas troops the Vesle at last received
it yesterday and promptly they went over the top
with their CHARACTERISTIC dash and fearlessness
and smashed forward on front of 800 meters,
bringing their lines to the Scissors Rheims road
west of Fismes.
1t was local action-a dash to a valuable
jumping-of place-but considerable significance may
be attached to it. Our soldiers latest gain is
believed to mark the initial stroke in the long
expected resumption of the Franco-American push
against the German Aisne-Vesle front.
Foehs scheme of operations for far to the north
west of Rheims he now stands about ten miles
above the Aisne while the Germans north of
Fismes, still nearly six miles below the river.
The hour must soon be when one of the
greatest pincer movements of the whole will
be launched with Pershing's boys in the fore in
great frontal attack against the army of the
crown prince.
Between the Disc and the Aisne the process
u It.
without pause. and after Noyon has changed hands
the French objectives will be Chauny and La Fere.
Unless the Germans stay the advance, neither
-the line of the Vese that OF the Aisne can
be held =T-e.
And with the Americans again in action we
feel confident that the pressure they will bring
to bear the Germans will help materially to
squeeze the enemy out of hundreds of square miles
Of strategic territory
How long the Germans stand against the
present tactics of the allies before they meet a
complete defeat? Marshal Foch must be giving
the German general staff something serious to
think about.
Since July IS the allies have battered away at
the enemy, allowing him no rest. He has been
steadily forced back by blow after blow, with
concentrated power in every case behind it. The
aggressive form displayed by the allies has sur
passed anything seen in the up to this time.
The German commanders must be soberly
concerned about the ability of the rank and file
to stand up under the unrelieved strain. There
is real danger that the morale of the army will
crack.
When will this come? IL cannot be far of.
We recall Gen. March's statement that we will
win the war before Christmas, 1919. We are
thinking Of Americas man-power bill. We believe
in the administrations policy that this war must
be won without delay to which end we are
directing every resource.
After Americas glorious showing on the Marne
there was lul in our boys fighting. The public
must have been as impatient the troops were for
a resumption of activities, for America is in back
of her fighters, will support them to and beyond
the limit of endurance and sacrifice. l..
Now our soldiers have again gone over the
top and America knows that they will always
60 to victory. o..
= Il We are nearest the Rhine"