The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-08-01
By ]. W. T. MASON
United Press War ExperD
Copyright. 1918, by the United Press }

Americas first million troops in
France. ensuring the final defeat of
German militarism has been the most
important event of the fourth year
of the war.
The turning point in modern civili-
ture historians from the year of strife
now closing because of Americas re-
solve TO consent to no peace until the
Hohenzollern, menace to the world is
crushed Despite the fact that Amer
lean troops have played only a minor
part in the years fighting. the United
States has predominantly influenced
the strategy of the fourth year of
the war The outstanding battlefield
facts of the year have been Won Hin
denburg's maddened efforts to break
the British and French fronts, and
General Fochs counter-policy of pa
tient defense.
HINDENBURG'S MOTIVE.
1t was fear of Americas fast accu-
mulating military strength that COM
PEELED Won Hindenburg to engage in
his campaign of ruthlessly sacrificing
his own troops: and it was the knowl-
edge of the overwhelming reinforce
ments America was sending to the
Allies that permitted General Foch to
see his lines driven back, without loss
of morale to the allied forces. Every
major plan worked out in Berlin. as
well as in the capitals of the allies
this year, has similarly been based
fundamentally upon Americas forth
coming activities in the war.
The American successes during the
year in Picardy and in the Chateau
Thierry sector, have been minor af-
fairs, regarded as isolated engage
ments But, all the victories of Won
Hindenburg in Flanders, Picarly and
Champagne do not compare in their
ultimate consequences with the prom
Use to world democracy contained in
the American operations at Cantigny,
Belleau Wood and Vaux.
PRUSSIAN THREATS.
Starting the fourth year of the war
with arrogant threats to the allies of
new changes in the map of Europe
unless the successes of the German
armies were accepted as decisive, the
German government has ended the
year by confessing that battlefield vic
tories cannot bring peace. Foreign
Minister Won Kuhlmann's pronounce
ment to this effect in the Reichstag
ranks second only to Americas i'm
mense war preparations as the years
most significant event. The reluc-
tance of the Kaisers militarists to
compel the resignation of Won Kuhl-
mann Immediately after his repudi-
alton of the invincibility of the Ger
man army is indicative of the sober
ing effect the presence of million
American troops in France is having
even on Won Hindenburg.
1t is apparent that as the fifth year
of warfare begins. the German leaders
are taking increasingly grave view of
hht uty udIt
not promise a decisive victory to the
Kaisers deluded subjects any long
er. The people of Germany are being
prepared, in fact. for the assumption
of permanently defensive role by
Won Hindenburg. This. although the
fourth year of conflict has seen Won
.Hindenburg display an unprecedented
degree of power in offensive warfare,
nevertheless. the year ends with an
admission by the German government
that by these means peace cannot be
won. In that fact is the certainty of
ultimate victory for democracy.
DUAL MONARCHY SEE HIS.
Affairs in Austro- Hungary during
the past year have been highly unsat-
isfactory to the Germans. The people
OF the dual monarchy have shown no
gratitude for the German assistance
which permitted the Austro-Hungar-
ians to recover their lost territory in
the IsonZo area and to drive the Ital-
ians back to the Piave. Since the
victory of the Central Powers in Itay
Austro- Hungary has been increasingly
reluctant to continue the war. Riot
ing has occurred sporadically in Wen
ma and many other cities but as yet
nothing suggesting direct revolu-
tionary success has occurred.
The Austro-Hungarians unquestion-
ably have become the most war weary
of all the peoples in the conflict dur