Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-10

The decision is taken to mean that
the leaders at Versailles are sure Of
victory on the cool basis of organ
lied lighting power backed by limit
less resources in war materials, and
the new drive in Picardy brings that
| victory one step nearer.
AS the situation stands. the enemy
faces alternative operations on Mt
least two fronts. Even while the
new drive was getting under way on
the Albert Montdidier line to the
north, French, American and British
| troops were hammering away between
SCISSORS and Rheims in way that
made 1t certain that the allied line
will be carried forward to the Aisne
or possibly across It,
| Around scissors the French are IN
position to outflank the line north of
the Aisne should occasion offer. or to
swing north and east and menace
the Germans in the Picardy salient in
tho flank and rear
The enemy now faces the necessity
OF bohtering up his lines along the
bottom of the Picardy salient without
! delay, or undertaking Immediately a
great withdrawal there.
II he withdraYs troops from the
| Aisne -Vesle line II ,s certain he will
be forced back there, and III he calls
| IN the reserves from the north a Brit
ish attack to flatten out the Flanders
salient is almost certainty.
|
! The entente nations, under the pres
sure of the United states. have adopted
middle course toward Russia, es-
! pecially that part which has. its in
terests in the far east. The argument
has prevailed that 1t would he danger
Gus to undertake an extensive military
campaign in Russia which, while 1t
| would call for division OF TeutonIc
! lighting power. also would have a
tendency to weaken allied strength on
! tho western front and thus DELAY a
definite decision there. where the war
| undoubtedly Will be fought to a con-
clusion. But even stronger than mill
| tary considerations are those of moral
origin. Strong military Intervention
would subject the already distressed
populations to new sacrifices, and new
hardships. Their diminished resources.
instead Of being applied to rehabilita-
ton. would be devoted to making war.
leaving them worse off, II possible,
than ever.
But the measure OF intervention to
which the United States and Japan now
publicly pledege themselves is humani-
tartan. They are ssoing to rescue first
Of the Czecho- Slovaks. who in self
defense have seized portions OF the
Trans Siberian railway and strategic
points in Siberia, the Ural region and
elsewhere.
It, is important to remember who
these ,Czecho- Slovaks are. They come
from Bohemia. Moravia and North
western Hungary. Forced into the
armies Of their Hapsburg oppressors.
they went over to the Russians in
large bodies early in the war. They
fought bravely. for the allies. believing
they were thus fighting for the indie
pendence OF their own people. After
the Russian collapse these. Czecho-
Slovak units found themselves in an
anomalous position. They asked for
permission to leave. the country peace
ably, so that they might fight for the
allies elsewhere. The bolshevist gov
erenment refused, sought to dlsarm
them. and armed released German
Austrian prisoners Of war to attack
them. The allies owe them much and
are seeking to protect and repay them.