Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-25
German Paper Lays
Defeat TO Betrayal
by Hun Deserters

me Hague. July 26.-The truth Is
beginning 20 break thru the minds
even Of the Germans, II being impos-
sible longer 10 disguise the seriousness
Of their defeat. Altho as usual
they find ingenious explanations with
which to develop the extremely un-
welcome realities. the fact that they
are back again across the Marne is
more eloquent than any number of
communtques and moro convincing
than the most, ingenious apologetics.
Those who eave followed closely the
state OF public feeling on the occasion
OF the previous German reverses well
know that behind all the German
bravado there exists a nervousness as
great as, II not greater than, tina.
existing in any other country in times
OF national emergency. There are the
Dest OF reasons for believing that this
nervousness VAS never SO acute as at
the present moment.
News of the German retreat spread
like wildfire thruout the father
land, causing the depression. already
universal. to become intensified to a
degree 1t hitherto had not reached. Or
hcial excuses are being put forward
In the German press. The Frankfur-
ter Zeitung's Berlin correspondent
writes:
The French assaulted. with enor-
nous masses OF troops In order to
break thru cur flank by a surprise
attack. The effort to break thru
was frustrated ~. 49, l.. -
fun progress. Now that Foch has
dinally proceeded to bring his long
spared reserves under FIRE, the su-
preme army command has found itself
confronted with new, decisive prob
lens. the issue of which We contem.
plate with confidence.
we know our supreme army com
nand adopts as the first principle
that human life must be spared as
much as possible. They often enough
have shown. N defense and attack.
that they do not allow themselves to
be diverted from this principle"
The KoelniscAe volkszeitung says:
Foch's attack. which again was
executed by the employment II a very
strong squadron Of tanks, had the pre-
nminaIy success strong massed Of
fensive thrust usually obtains. Even
II 1t was expected by the German
command. the momentary surprise
necessarily succeeded locally to a GER
tain extent 50 that at some place,
penetration could occur, but the pen
etration never amounted to a break
thru. this being prevented by the
tough resistance Of the German posi-
tion troops and also by the interven-
ton Of reserves which were not, as
Foch perhaps believed, employed on
the Marne, but remained In the hands
OF the command on this front"
The paper concludes by eaying that
the next few days VIII show whether
Foch can continue, his counter often
sive or whether It will remain q pass
Ing episode, leaving no great traces.
A Berlin telesrarn to the Koelnische
Volkszeitung Gays the Germans have
been betrayed by their own troops.
The correspondent adds:
The Germans at home perhaps at
tached false hopes to our new often
sive. 1t can not be the aim OF every
military operation In all circumstances
tn attain definite ends. The military
operations Of the third week Of July
aroused various Prescriptions among
the population at variance with actual
conditions, not to speak Of those who
on July 16 were absolutely certain
that Hindenburs would carry out an
attack against Paris.
I'VE have now. we know 1t posi
lively. no ground for concealing the
fact that IN the ranks Of the German
troops were desertes to the enemy,
who utilized their knewiedge of the
operations planned for base treachery
to the fatherland and their comrades
in arms. They informed the enemy
Of the German plans and the French
thereby naturally had certain adj
vantages.'
The Volks Zeitung endeavors to re-
assure It's readers. saying further
severe battles are impending, adding:
mot only in the region east OF
Rheims but also on the Marne the
Germans are confronted with new
tasks"
1t urges the people to have faith in
Hinderbur&
1T is hardly necessary" 1t says, ito
conceal the fact that the object of the
offensive stnven for in the last few
days remained unattainabie'
Dutch papers fully recognize the
magnitude Of the German failure. The
Nieuwe Rotterdamscke Courant says:
The German offensive east and
west of Rheims failed thru the
Franco-American thrust. Won Boehm'.
army narrowly escaped the fate Of the
Austrians on the Pave. The danger
to Rheims and Epernay seems to have
been averted by single blow. In
less than week the Germans who
began the offensive were forced to the
defensive, and in the Champagne not
only lost all the ground won, but were
obliged to surrender whole stretcn
of what they formerly occupied. This
paper also points to the difference be-
tween the French and the Gerrnan
booty. the Germans having taken few
guns. while the French. who took 5000
prisoners, claim to have captured $50
guns. including p battery Of eight inch