The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-07-24
HOPE Is HIGH AS
FIFTH YEAR DAWNS

And this was surprise the Germans
themselves Notwithstanding Person
ally / believe the war might have
been ended there and then had tho
allies not been dog Tired at the end OF
long. hard campaign. instead of
being al the start and fresh. For the
tanks, hundreds OF them. broke com
ploteiy thru before tho panic stricken
enemy realized what WIS going on.
In front 81 the British infantry lay
Cambria and the wide-opcn country.
All that WIS needed WAS n strong.
fresh army TO exploit tho breach.
The whole German front might have
been rolled up.
Rumors Of Offensive
Tho German offensive which be.
Rtu March a wna not surprise In
any way Whatsoever. Sir Douglas
Hang knew when. where and how
ftindenburg'H offensive was coming.
Not very long before tho offensive
began. an unfortunate thing 90,
CURED. The fortunes OF wnr neoessi-
tated the taking over OF morn line by
the British Formerly tho British
line ended near 81 Quentin Now II
was extended as far as Ia Fcre. and
before the troops got fairly into their
new sector. Iiindenburg's blow fell.
Against the long. thin British line.
reaching from tho River Scu-pc %
the Disc. at La Fcre. was hurried the
mightiest force ever seen In battle.
Along this bo-miie front three army
groups swept forward. numbering
more than 80 divisions. OF which Al
divisions were used I'm tho first DAYS
attack Opposing the enemy were
tho small Third British army under
Sir Julian Byng. Of C;unbrsd fame.
and tho smaller Firth army. under
Gen. Cough worn down In the cam.
paiRns mentioned. and very thinly
spread out
Ordeal Was Trying
No soldiers on earth ever went thru
such an ordeal as did the British
during tho seven days following the
start Of that offensive.
The drive In Flanders came a few
days later on April .. II started In
small Way against the Portuguese.
just south 81 ATnenticres. and two
British divisions on their flanlsn. BY
their unexpected rapid advance In the
center. crossing the River Lys nj
Bac-St Aaur. and pushing on
toward Ballleui. "A dangerous situa-
ton WIS created for tho British. and
tho Germans knew a. SO they
aNfls.lfks -.
large the breach and. tho following
day. struck al MeaslncH. north OF
Ar1ncnueres. This city was dclugcd
with gas and "pinchcd out"
The Germans. under Won Armin
and Won Quasi. by advancing against
the British First army land the
French. who had come up. toward
Hazebrouek. which soon became their
objective. forced retirement Of the
army to the north. the Second. which
had won PaAschendaalo From the
fprss SALIENT now dangerous
pocket. the British fell back with
practically no losses. 90 Ypres Itself
This WAS heart-breakinE for the men
who had won this ground in 1917.
80 AAse+a NNh ffFANfflf n NTT
Gle. not for towns AMI villages. but
To outsnaneuyer and nnnihilnt. ar.
mics.
The Drive for Paris
on May - began the drive for
Paris. Just az every body who had
eyes TO sec had expected. a continue.
ton Of llindenburg'u fundamental
plan TO crush the allied armies and
force q German peace on the world.
But the great decision 10 brigade
Americans with tho British and
French already had become effective.
We first knew OF IT, In confidence.
a. far back as January. Now It was
= reality The result Is. or ought 10
be. that the allies may fall back here
and oede ground there. but slowly and
surely fiindenhurE's armies must