The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-20
Victory IL Ours.


Vletosy ID Ours.
II General FocA's offensive between
Soissons and Chateau Thierry pro-
crosses no further than 1t already has
zone 1t will have achieved the highest
military objects. A new problem Is
faced FOR the enemy; his important
lines Of communication are menaced
his. forces must be redistrIbuted to
meet the altered situation, and he
must Immediately attack positions
chosen by General FocH, or else with
draw his armies over a considerable
area to remove them from positions
now rerilous, II not untenable. This
Is the most conservative view OF the
effects that Is permissible under the
circumstances. 1t Is therefore plain
that General FocH's troops have al.
ready won a great success: and the
full measure Of Its effect, which Is not
yet In sight. may surpass our most
fervent hopes, and transform the al
vance that began on July IS into a
victory for civilization of fur reaching
success
In this magnificent enterprise, com.
pletely Typical Of the genius in its
conception and execution Of FocH, our
soldiers have borne notable and
honorable part. The exact extent of
their participation is withheld from
us by the War Department. but we
know that they were permitted to Join
the advancing French in considerable
numbers. and that in the performance
Of their duty they won the applause
Of their own commanders and Of the
experienced French officers under
whom, or side by side with whose
units. they served. That they were
brege and enthusiastic rs individuals
wAs Established before; the fact that
the most delicate tasks were en-
trusted to them shows that they have
advanced in military training to a
point satisfactory to their Instructors,
officers of the French and English ar
mics grown wise in war and schooled
to high standards by the relentless
exigencies of actual combat. The
faith that our men by their aptitude
ana diligence inspired in these mas
tiers OF the military science has been
justified on the field. We now have
not only the component parts of an
army, but an army individually of
the best, professionally fit and in
splred by the noblest of purposes and
the most glorious Of traditions.
Indeed, what other army-h has ever
had the opportunity to absorb and
make Its own such traditions as are
the honest heritage Of these men in
khaki who on the battle front in
France defend their homes 5000 miles
away! Behind them Is the record of
their own predecessors in the uniform
OF the Unhed States. the noble his
tory of tRe'arms Of France, supreme
among nations in the art Of war, and
the glorious history of the British
arms. The knowledge, the standards.
the achievements Of all these. the
secrets and the spirits of these insti-
buttons. all that Is best in them. are
BY right of training and association
possessions Of the sons Of America
who fight beside the French and the
British not as strangers come from
afar but as brothers reared in the
same school, filled with the same
Ideals, and striving in generous ri.
valry in the same great cause.
More gratifying than any other de.
toll OF this notable exploit of arms,
80 far as we OF America are con-
cerned, Is the fact that in the vlcto-
ries that have been won our soldiers
OF every class have had opportunity to
display their worth and have yindI-
Gated their own character and the
system that transformed civilians
into fighting men. The Regulars and
the Marines had already lived up to the
splendid reputation they possessed
now units Of the National Guard
Army and the National Army have
proved their mettle under fire. To
those who have watched with conf
dsnce the incubation OF the military
habit into these men the confirma.
tion of their strongly held beliefs Is
highly gratifying. To the few who
have doubted the feasibility OF the
intensive schooling made necessary by
the dire necessities of the nation the
revelation of its success brings re-
lief. But no man will draw from II
any other lesson than one which
teaches us that never In the future
can we depend on such improvisc-
lions tn safeguard our land. |
Our army is in the forefront of the
host that battles for Civilization to.
day. real army, n military machine,
capable of great deeds, accomplishing
'tfrtr IL.