The Cordova daily times., 1918-07-08
THE WAR SITUATION

The news from the Italian front
has been very encouraging during the
past few week and there can be no
doubt that it has discouraged Austria
in the same degree that 1t has en-
couraged us but we must not permit
belief that it is the beginning of the
end. While we are rejoicing over the
brilliant Italian victory we must not
forget that Paris and the English
channel ports are still in grave dan
ger and that Austrian reverses are
only going to serve to spur the Ger
man military machine to greater ef-
the German war lords are secretly
forts. In fact. 1t may develop that
smiling over Austria's inability to
cope with the rejuvenated Italian army
for the conditions make Austria more
dependent than ever on Germany and
binds her to her savage ally to the
bitter end. The crisis is not passed
but seems to be close at hand There.
tore we need not be surprised if within
the next few weeks Germany springs
new methods of butchery in another
drive for Paris or the channel norris
France and England are admittedly |
chnging to America as the last hope |
to turn the tide of the battle and woe
90 u
tedious delays, to come up to Their ex-
pectations. Our business today Is win
ing the war and only fools and
knaves will sit back complacently fold
ing their hands over wel-fed bellies
and assuring the American people
that all is well-that the death rattle
is in Austria's throat and Germany
Is weak in the knese Speaking along
the same line, conservative business
magazine says
DO the American people realize
this? We fear they do not They do
not app pcia'e how terrible will be the
blow to the French 'will-to-fight" if
German shells should begin to de-
stroy Paris Paris. the pride and JOY
of every French man and French
woman. from which is is reported So
600 women and children have been
already removed Americans ought to
appreciate it; they ought to under ;
stand that even if the enemy Is held
on the exact lines of today, eyrything
will still hang on America. This
means that + America $ to help and
save, ii now must begin to think from
the point of view OF one upon whom
the ultimate decision rests. We have
become the stroke oar in boat In
which the rest of the crew are nearly
exhausted We must. therefore, as
sumo the leaership and begin to plan
with a clear-cut realization of the cri-
sis and what it demands. We must
formulate our own policy for carrying
on the war Ships. rifles. and men
are going forward in satisfactory guam
titles and with remarkable speed; crit
icism no longer lies there. But on the
othod hand, there is no adequate Wis
ualiZing of the extent of the crisis,
no understanding that we are sud
denly become the Atlas. bearing upon
our shoulders the whole allied world
and its hopes for defeating the worst
aggregation of constituencies militar-
SITS the world has produced. What be-
yond the immediate emergency Is to
be our policy? 1t a moment to test
every bit of craftsmanship in the
country"
If the God of right has given new
strength to the Italian army let us
offer prayers of thanksgiving, If the
same power is weakening the force
OF German arms let us be additionally
thankful but in the meantime let us
above all things keep our American
powder dry and our hearts steeled to
face new reverses unflinchingly until
the Boche Is buried In the ruins Of his
own cities.