The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1918-11-14
LAST OF WORLD
AUTOGRAPHS FALLEN

The German empire was the last OF
the great autocracies whose fall marks
the real significance of the war. In
Russia, Austria-Hungary and finally
in Germany, irresponsible power gave
way before the irresistible forces UNI
til Field Marshal Won Hindenburg's
prophetic words, early in the war,
came true. The side with the strong
est nerves, said he, would win. It was
the crumbling of the home front
which made it impossible, for Ger
many, Notwithstanding her great arm
les in the field, to carry on any longer.
The collapse of Germany brings the
eclipse of the German idea of the
state, as opposed to the doctrine of
individual rights. Under this regime,
there was developed a nation of which
militarism was the embodiment, which
murdered and plundered, needless of
the rights of the individual, and made
terrorism matter of studied policy.
This terrorism was directed not
against individuals but against ma
tons, not only hostile nations but
those with whom Germany was Off
cially at peace.
It's system of espionage, corruption
and violence extended throughout the
world. 1t was exemplified by the
plots carried out in this country un-
der direction of the government for
the destruction of munition plants and
ships before the United States enter
ed the war and by the effort of the
German government to embroil this
country, then neutral, in war with ia
pam and Mexico. No capital of Eu-
rope was free. from German secret
agents in the years preceding the war
and the nations lived in growing dread
of the huge military machine which
Germany was building up, to the &C
compartment of the emperor's boast
ings of the shining sword" and Ger
man toasts to Der Tag" in voices
which echoed around the world.
Greatest of World Conflicts.
The virtual ending of this greatest
of conflicts has come with dramatic
swiftness. Four months ago the Ger
man military power apparently was at
it's height. The unchecked forces OF
the enemy had battered their way
through the French and British lines
until Paris was in danger. Late in
July the world was thrilled with the
news of an allied cOunter-attack be-
tween the Aisne and the Marne The
Germans were hurled back and since
that day the victorious progress of
the allies has been maintained
Various causes have contributed to
this reversal. The entrance of Amer
lea into the struggle, with her vast re-
sources Of men and materials, is con-
coded by the allies to have turned the
scale. One of the most important
effects of this cOuntry's act was the
heartening to an enormous extent of
the wearied allied nations and a cor
responding deterioration of German
morale. Exhaustion of German raw
material and years of semi-starvation
assisted in the process of beating.
down the enemy into a submissive
frame of mind. 1t is also significant
that the establishment of allied SUI
premacy in the field almost synchron-
lied with unification of military con-
troll and the appointment of Foch to
the post of supreme command. Mill
tary commentators without exception
lay stress upon the Importance of
leadership and the genius Of Foch in
stemming and finally turning the tide.
Among the individual leaders, aside
from FNoch, whose names stand out
most prominently, are Marshal Joffre,
who saved France in her darkest days
Of the summer of 1914; Field Marshal
Haig, the British commander; Gen
eral Petain, at the head of the French
forces; General Diaz, who on the Ital-
ian front beat back last summers
great Austrian offensive and later
tore the Austrian armies to pieces in a
few weeks, and General Pershing.