The Washington herald., 1918-07-19
A Great Day.

The War Lord got his real answer yesterday
from the American contemptibles.
The world was notified that the American
troops, from this time forward, are to take an
aggressive. vigorous part in determining the issues
OF the war. &
The whole American war machine must feel
the dynamic effect OF a stimulus it sees
the product OF its labor already beating the pro
fessonals, the past masters of the art Of slaughter
at their own game.
= The initiative has been restored 10 the allies
For four weary months the entente forces have
been the anvil for an unparalleled series Of blows;
now they have gripped the hammer and are
Nsielding it in way which means business"
No mere local action this between Chateau Therry
and Scissors powerful thrust which threatens
the entire German salient driven between the Aisne
: and the Marne. We await news of the second days
operation OF this surprise stroke with more than
: confidence.
: 1t seems but yesterday since were shaken
: with certain doubts to the safety of Paris
tand the Channel ports the ability of American
boys to stand up against the Prussian military
,mschne to which human life is the cheapest thing
in the world. We told that troops
would of necessity be specifically trained and
could be expected to do much at first against
/ the nation which has made a national industry
Z Within few days time entire viewpoint
on the war has been changed. We no longer say
our men merely equal to the best that the
,Boche can give them. We know that they
are better in every way. Most of the who
fought brilliantly between Scissors and Chateau
Thicrry had not even heard of the elementary
drill manual year ago. 1t is safe to say that
majority OF them have military training for
less than eight months And these men were
pittcd against troops who for four years and more
had been drilled and drilled and drilled in the
whole repcriOry OF slaughter.
American spirit is telling. American physique
IS telling. American kccnncss and initiative
earning dividends right from the start. Our
fondcst hcpcs arc surpassed. Here is a summary
OF their work supplied by a member of the
British sescra staff:
In kcenncss, intelligence, physique. and dsci-
pine they stand level with the finest corps
on the allied front. The moral effect OF the ap-
pcarance in line OF these vigorous, alert young men,
whose whole idea is TO finish the war as quickly
possible, is incalculabe. The entente troops
with four years of wearing duty behind them feel
their presence like a Whit of new stimulating
atmosphere
Furthermore, American troops landed lattery
are so well trained they almost ready to go
straight the battle line, and every fresh batch
shows a higher degree of excellence in this re-
sDcct Ono year after American has a million
troops in the fighting line is the furthest time
set by highly qualified observers for the
cluson OF the war. II won't be long before that
number is available
A correspondent remarks upon the amazement
with which the French troops see the accuracy
OF American rife FIRE, which is effective up to one
Thousand yards. Heretofore the rifle FIRE in France
has been limited largely to less than half this
distance. This is partly tribute to the excel
ience OF our new rcchambcred Enfield, about which
we had much fuss last winter, and in the train
ing of American boys in gunnery, which evidently
has been thorough.
The Americans, with the French, are still press
ing forward. pinching the German salient, making
these hours historic for every American heart. We
are in the up to the hilt now