The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-06-08
COMING TO GRIPS


There indications that the Germans are massing
forces for an assault upon the American line in Lor-
raine Allied aviators have noted many trains running
to the front and many othrs concentrating supplies be-
hind the German line 1t quite to be expected that
the enemy will strike at the American line soon, and
when he does strike it will doubtless be with terrific force
The accumulang strength of the Americans is anything
but reassurng to Germany especially since an Ameri
can force nterposed at Chateau Therry and elsewhere
the main front has enabled the French to check the
German advance The transfer Of Americans from the
comparatively quiet Toul sector to the Marine is oper
alton which the German strategsts will try to stop if
they can.
Another reason why the Germans may strike at the
main American front is that they hope by decisive vic
tory to convince the Americans that it is not wise
them to go to the front without longer training If
reverse should and the American command should
consude that longer training necessary the Germans
will have achieved notable advantage, equivalent to
putting many thousand men out of commission.
The Germans rely upon supposed superiority in train
ing and discipline gas and aviation in their prospective
struggle with the Americans. The from America
mans The American avators are skillfh but they
few AS for gas appears that of the allies has
yet worked out method of neuralizng the cumulative
effects of mustard gas The gases used by the allies
deadly but they do render ground unnhabitabe
for long periods In the matter of training and scpne
there no occasion to shrink from test In battle,
if the greater experience of the Germans be acknowledge
ed
major struggle between the Germans and Amer
would be than likely to resolve itself down to
question of numbers The Germans are good fighters
and against inferior antagonists they to win
when they have advantage in numbers. But it is no.
tceable that in fighting French British, Belgian, Italian
Serbian soldiers the Germans cannot make Roadway
trvances such as mustard gas light infantry artillery
when they go against an equal number of allied troops
The people of this country do not expect miracles
from their soldiers at the front They do however,
pose the utmost confidence the individual bravery and
fighting ability of the American boys. No one in the
United States expects to hear during this than any
body of American troops has fallen back before equal
number of the enemy 1t would not be surprising to learn
numbers greater than their own.
The situation may be such to induce the Germans
to pile up overwhelming forces against the Americans in
the hope of annhlatng them and stirring up defeatist
spirit America America is not made OF that material
If the American force in Lorraine should be ounumber
ed and should be defeated, Germany need expect no
squea from the United States Instead of inspiring
demand for peace, the defeat of soldiers would in
spire demand for war on vaster scale than ever
The and substance of the American attitude, we
believe S this does not matter what Germany says or
does does not do say The United States will go
forward to victory Germany cannot hinder this nation
in organizing for the delivery of the fatal stroke A
German victory boys or a German raid on our
shipping is incident of the tremendous drama that is
unfolding. The climax of that drama must be the de-
feat of Germany the defeat of the United States
Germany started the alone but she cannot end it
alone except by surrender The war goes to the bitter
end, Washington Post.