Evening star., 1918-08-08

ish army. The enemy's object was to
obtain a military decision this year,
before the American Army could come
up-.frst of all by severing. the two
rated French and British forces. :
I'VE must understand the enemy
plan in order to realize what the
valor of the, British army achieved.
II the two objects had been obtained.
the American forces could not have
arrived in time to save the French
army. That was the German calcu-
lation. Let us not forget in the light
of what happened afterward that 1t
How did the German plans prosper?
There had been four and a half
months of such fighting as never be-
fore was seen on the face of the
globe, What happened? At first. .he
German army achieved considerable
success and we had anxious moments
very anxious moments. Those who
knew most about the situation were
the most anxious. Our losses were
considerable in men, in material and
also in prisoners.
Men Thrown Across Channel.
The second German blow might
very well have overwhelmed the Brit
over, in a fortnights time. 100000
men were thrown across the channel
and. in a months time $4,000. Every
gun lost had been put back and every
machine gun replaced. Not merely
had the deficiency been supplied but
the number had been increased
"At that moment there were more
guns and more machine guns with
the army in France than ever before.
1t was the first German miscalcula-
ton They calculated that we could
not do it.
I'VE owe a debt of gratitude to a
section of the press for misleading
the enemy. They led the Germans to
believe that we hadn't even been able
to make up the deficiency. and the
Germans made their plans accord
ingly.
'They hit here, they hit in the
south. in the center and in the north,
where they thought they were de-
stroying the British army with moth
ing behind 1t. In six weeks they
were hurled back and forced to stand
still by the British army; they were
defeated in two of the most san
culinary battles of the war: they left
with unhealthy salients under the FIRE
Of our guns and with an extended
line.
Their purpose was to overwhelm
the British army; they declared it
and they announced it in their in
spired press, but on the 1st of May
they left us to go south to make an
other attack, for 1t could not be done
In the north. 1t was one of the finest
things in tenacious valor in the whole
history of the British empire.
Only a great emergency could have
justified the sending of lads of eight
cen and half years, with only a few
months training. to France. When
they arrived there they went straight
were there they had to face the vet
Grams and the victorious troops of
the enemy. But no veterans ever
fought with greater steadfastness
than these lads who helped to save
the cause of the allies from disaster.
May Come Again.
after the enemy's experience in
that six weeks of fighting. although
we know what the plan was. the
British army was not attacked for
three or four months. The Germans
may come again. but that Will be be-
cause they have failed elsewhere.
Il wish to give warm recognition
to the assistance that the French gave
in these operations. After May / the
Germans turned off and attacked the
French. They won a preliminary sue
cess on a considerable scale, but not
merely have they been forced to a
counter stroke-the most brilliant in
the annals of the war-has driven
back the enemy. The danger is not
yet over. but he would be a sanguine
man on the German general staff who
would now predict that Germany could
obtain a military decision this year.
Il do not wish to go beyond that
I'm analyzing the elements of the
allied success. stress should be placed
on the rapidity with which the British
made good their losses and the rapid
fty in which the American troops were
ThaCa fuyn
essential parts of the German miscal-
culations.
In July 3o5, 900 American troops were
brought over. 1s5, 900 Of them in British
ships. Everybody knows how gallantly
the Americans fought. They fought with
a trained skill which no one had a right
to expect Their officers showed a skill
ed knowledge in the management Of the
men under trying conditions, which one
could hardly expect from men who had
not had years experience in war.
Success in United Command.
Another element of success was the
united command which was achieved
only after a long struggle. There is no
generalissimo in the strict sense Of the
word What has been achieved was a
unity OF strategic command which has
answered every purpose. as the Ger
mans know to their cost.
From the moment Marshal Foch
achieved strategic command the for
tunes of the allied armies were restored.
There have been mishaps, but the mas
terly handling of the reserves has baf-
their retreat from the Marne. 1t is too
early to say that the German effort is
exhausted, They still have powerful
forces in reserve. but it Is not too early
to say that their chances OF March Il
will not come again.
America already has a powerful,
large and victorious army in France,
the equal of the best troops. 1t is
growing every day and there Will be
no break in the increase of that army
until America has an army not far
short, IL at all inferior in numbers
to the German army itself.
Germany never again can maintain
the same number of divisions that she
has. She now is begging for Austrian
support. The German people and their
allies are beginning to be disillusion-
ed. In March Germany was promising
great things-and the peace tentacles
from her allies were withdrawn. That
promise has failed. The German har-
vest is short. Militarily. the Germans
have passed the height of their power.
Russia, moreover, has become clog
to the feet of Germany.
Attitude Toward Russia.
.The idea that Great Britain is act
ing hostilely toward the democratic
government OF Russia has nothing in
common with fact. 1t is always our
policy to deal with de facto govern
ments, but it is impossible to decide or
ascertain from day to day what the
government is of a single village in
the vast territory Of Russia.
1--WE have not the slightest desire
70 interfere with the Russian people,
and certainly no intention of imposing
on them any particular form of gov
ernment. But when we see Germany
using her authority over large tracts
of Russia and exploiting them to the
detriment of the allies and against the