Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-30
u. S. DOMINATED
WARS STRATEGY
IN FOURTH YEAR
knowledge of Coming of Amer
leans Spured Hindenburg on
and Enabled FoCh to Wait,
Initiative Now With Allies

NEW YORK. July 26.-The fourth
year of the war is ending with the
strategic initiative drastically restored
to General Foch along the Marine. fol-
lowing Americas first cooperative en-
gagements with the allies.
The arrival of Americas first mil
lion 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 ctvillza'
ton will probably be dated by future
historians from the year of strife no"
closing, because of Americas resole to
consent to no peace until the Hohen-
zolIern menace to the world is crushed.
Despite the fact that American 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 Hindenburg's maddenea
efforts to break the British and French
fronts, and General Foch's counterpart
icy of patient defense.
Hindenburg's Motive
1t was fear of Americas fast accu-
mulatinr military strength that com
PEELED Won Hindenburg to engage in MS
campaign of ruthlessly sacrificing ms
own troops; and it was the knoWleoSe
of the overwhelming reinforcements
America was sending to the allies that
permitted General Foch to see his lines
drive back, without loss OF morale 10
the allied forces. Every major pan
worked out in Berlin as well as IN the
CAPITALS of the allies this year, has SINH
larlv been based fundamentally upon
Americas Forthcoming major activities
in the war. -,
lv justified at the first serious encounter
between the Americans and the Ger
mans. which occurred eleven days ago
south of the Marine, opposite Jaulgonne.
The Germans fifth offensive was shat-
tered by the American counter attacks,
which forced the Germans to retire to
the north bank of the river. The Amer
lean success was especially significant,
because it was the first time American
officers and men had been tested in the
difficult tactics of counter assaults. Fol-
lowing this early promise, the Amerl-
cans contributed similarity effective aid
to General Fochs cautiously developed
drives between the Aisne and the Marine,
which are still proceeding.
The American successes during the
year in Picardy and in the Chateau
regarded as isolated engagements. But
all the victories of Won Hindenburg Iii
Flanders, Picardy and Champagne do
not compare in their ultimate conse-
uuences with the promise 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 un-
less the successes of the German armies
were accepted as decisive, the German
government has ended the year by con-
Tossing that battlefield victories cannot
bring peace. Foreign Minister Won
Kuehlmann's pronouncement to this ef-
feet in the reichstag ranks second only
to Americas immense war preparations
as the years most significant event the
reluctance of the kaiser's militarists TO
compel the resignation of Won kuehl-
mann Immediately after his reputation
of the invincibility of the German army
is Indicative of the SOLDERING effect the
presence of a million American troops
in France is having even on the German
general staff.
Won Kuehlmann's evident retirement
was a desperate expedient to stem de-
cline IN GeTIndn ~ MS
speech.
1t is apparent that as the fifth year
of warfare begins, the German leaders
are taking an increasingly grave view
of the situation facing them. They dare
not promise a decisive victory to the
kaiser's deluded subjects any longer. The
people of Germany are being prepared
in fact, for the assumption of per-
manently defensive role by Won Luden-
dorff This, although the fourth year of
conflict has seen the Hun high COM
mand display an unprecedented degree
of power in offensive warfare, nevert1e-
less. 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 Sees This
Affairs in Austria Hungary during the
past year have been highly unsat!sfac-
tory to the Germans. The people of tie
dual monarchy have shown no gratitude
for the German assistance which per
mitted the Austro-Hungarians to re-
cover their lost territory in the Isonzo
area and to drive the Italians back to
the Piave. Since the victory of the CEN
trail powers in Italy, Austria-Hungary
has become increasingly reluctant to
continue the war Rioting has occurred
sporadically in Vienna and many other
cities. but as yet, nothing suggesting
a direct revolutionary success has oc-
CURED.
The Austro- Hungarians unquestion-