The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-22

TO get DdCk SOIHe OI liSii VA u.s.
tons, the French command prepared
land staged still another equally I'M
fportant and brilliant affair.
Ever since the final conquest of the
great portion Of the Chemin des
DANES by the French in May, 1917, 9
severe battle had ragged there contin-
luously for the final possession by either
the French or the Germans of the
famous ridge. 1t was necessary to put
an end to this by driving the Ger
imans back to point where they
could no longer keep up their day and
night attacks.
| The attack was launched October
20, with Fort Malmaison as one OF
| the principal detectives. The victory
was one of the most remarkable Of
| the war. Not only were all of the OBJ.
jectives attained, but these detectives
thanking the Germans and taking them
in the rear forced before the end Of
the week the German evacuation Of
their entire line of positions on the
northern slope of the Chemin des
Danes and their retirement across
the Ailette.
To Aid Of Italy.
With this military effort and these
victories to her credit no one would
have denied to France the right to
rest on her laurels for the remainder
of the year. But precisely at that
moment, the Austro-German offensive
against Italy met with its unexpected
success and without stopping for a
single instant to consult her own in
terests or her own risks in the case,
France. within twenty-four hours, had
one of her finest armies enroute foI
Italy.
There, on almost the last day of the
won another glorious victory in its
famous attack on Monte Toma, In
which only 1000 Alpine chasseurs
not only captured the summit Of the
mountain but inflicted on the Aus
trians losses exceeding twice the mum.
Der of French infantrymen engaged.
Over 1890 Austrians were taken pris-
oners by the French chasseurs while
over 500 Austrian dead were counted
on the field of battle.
Already as a result of this remark
able military effort, France was begin
ming, almost unconsciously as it were,
to receive the ACKNOWLEDGING OF
her military leadership Of the allies.
In the allied war councils both at
Rapallo and Versailles that followed
the Italian disaster and its re-estab- |
lshment French generals and militia |
~ leaders were given an ever inc:eas- |
irs recognition of leadership.
Germans Plunge.
Then after nearly three months az
waiting came the great German o. /
fensiye of March 81. The attack was
made against the British liue g short !
distance above it's junction with he |
French front. A gap was mads in /
the line and without question the al |
lies faced the most critical and the |
most crucial moment since the battle /
of the Marine. But again French mil /
itary genius on the part of Frances !
generals and French abnesation and I
heroism on the part of the French SOL |
diers enabled France to fill the |
breach.
But France had done more than fill |
the breach. She had won recognition !
Of leadership and superiority that
could no longer be denied and at last /
the supreme command of all the allied I
armies on the western front passed
20 French general and French staff.
But this recognition of French mill
AIRY genius was not confined TO rhe
I'd the humble "poilu' as we'll His en-
lurance. his patience. his vigor, his
7irility, his heroism and aoovs all bis
esprit de corps" were things that
must also be recognized for the good
If the allied cause
French units therefore passed TO
,ther portions of the front where their
admirable qualities might serve as in
'piration TO Americans, Tommies. Bel
rians and Portuguese, while snits
rom all these armies passed likewise
nto French sectors of the front where
hey might benefit even more quickly
~ contact with Frances poilus.
Thus. with the opening of the fifth ,
-ear Of the great war, the western
ront presents what is in realitv one
reat army under one great French
cmmand in which the French 'pollG"
s intermingled as leavening for the
ntire mass thai must rise and attain ,
5ctory fo- me allied cause.
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