The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-04-25
CURTAIN FALLS
on SECOND n ACT
OF THE GREAT AlNDENsuRc
WESTERN FRONT DRIVE.
WHAT WILL THE THIRD CONTAIN
Germans Have Gamblers Choice To
Play Again With Doubled Stakes
To Retrieve Losses--Politlcal
Situation Improved.
tBy K. Wafter.)

London, April 22.-The curtain has
come down on the second act of the
great battle with the Villain success.
full enough to leave us in suspense but
frustrated again in the eleventh hour.
In the first act he nearly separated
the British and French armies and
nearly captured Amiens; in the sec
ond act he nearly broke through and
at the climax did indeed already
threaten the British and Belgian arm
les in Belgium Today we sit like
spectators in a trench, specializing
what the hero Foch viii do in the next
act, and what new Villainy is planned,
The grave anxiety which we have
felt, who knew how critical the situ-
alton had become last week end. was
relieved by the withdrawal without
interference from the dangerous sal
lent east of Ypres.
Taking the Gamblers Chance.
TIindenburg has now the choice Of
seeking desperate decision by fur
Their attempts to reach Amiens or
4
off the Belgian and British armies of
the north. If he does not feel strong
enough to do either he may. initiate
an offense of new part of the lint.
Having taken the initiative, like a
gambler who doubles his stake after
each loss,.he may maintain it or lose
all. Foch, in the role OF banker, is
satisfied/to let the stakes increase
while the losses continue, knowing
what the players resources are and
that they are not unlimited. Hin
denburg has indeed lost heavily in
Ibis first two throws and most of his
gain has been the opportunity to play
! again. Here in London anxiety has
given wa yto expectation, and conf
dence in Foch is unqualified.
Government Was Benefited.
The government seems to have ben
Gifted by Being forced to face criti-
i.cal military situation. One had be,
! gun to hear that Lloyd George was
played out, that he had lost his po-
/ litical courage and was at pains to
avoid decisions. Today he is again
the daring politician and his courage
is likely to be rewarded He has
adopted England's just demand that
ireland shall bear her part of the
sacrifices of war, and Ireland's just
demand for Home Rule, two meas.
ures equally obnoxious to different
| NO ute IF IfnI nj oh hn
bases the demand for conscription on
purely military grounds and the de-
mand for Home Rule on political jus.
] tice, In the English mind there is
no question whatever of trading the
one for the other; both are Justified
on their own merits; the necessity
for each arises from different cause.
The conscription bill passed by a
large majority; the Home Rule bill
will just as surely be passed. Con-
scription cannot Immediately be APP.
piled to Ireland; the machinery does
not exist; Home Rule will be law
before conscription can be set up.
Only in this. way are the, two meas.
ures connected.
Where the Roads Fork.
1t should be added that no practical
politician has ever contemplated Civ
ing Ireland control of military af,
fairs, any more than the United States
would admit the right of Kansas or
Iowa or Wisconsin or any other state
to reject the draft law The de.
mand of the Irish Nationalists that
CONSUMPTION shall await the convoca;
ton of an Irish parliament is not pol.
itics. but propaganda.