The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1918-05-01
NO. IS
DEATH BLOW TO
HUN HOPES Seen
Failure of the Present Drive
Will Mean Ultimate AL
lied Victory.

leave at lunch, says X. Walter.
when did you come over?"
asked.
Yesterday. Forty-eight hours
ago l was in the thick of it,"
In the midst of the great battle
he had been notified by field tele-
phone that he was due to go on leave
and his major had persuaded him
to go.
Last Wednesday evening l receiv-
ed letter from major of engi-
neers, also in the thick of it. It was
dated Monday.
These are small matters to send
across the ocean as echoes of the
great conflict, but | believe they will
help you to realize better than any
official assurances the methodical
calm with which England's supreme
effort for democracy is being con-
Quoted. The behavior Of the peo-
pie at home is a match for the i'm
rerturbahle- working -of~the last Mill
tary machine. Personal anxiety and
suspense are universal. | do not
know family which has not one
real defender of democracy in the
heroic British divisions known or be-
lieved to be engaged in the battle,
but in public there has been no sign
of uneasiness. Only the questions
we ask each other have changed.
They are no longer exclusively con-
cerned with the movement of the
hour. The future is still inscrutable
in all its details, but it is a longer
future than it was a few days ago.
Will the battle be decisive? Will
it bring peace? At the time of
writing, the best opinion l have been
able to consult answers yes to the
first and shakes its head over the
second. AS a death blow to the very
tory it will be decisive. So ia" as
strictly military events go it will not
end the war, because the Hun gener-
al staff still has in reserve sufficient
forces to carry out abig alternative
plan of defense prepared for just
such an eventuality as they seem
likely to have to face. Cautious
minds are prepared for a deadlock
on new line, which would in effect
be a German defeat, a British vic
tory, and a challenge to America.
The issue Of the war would be as
sured, but its duration would depend
upon american arms and American
shipbuilders.
We know today that the first Ger
man plan of offensive has been terri
bly, defeated, that the German sacri-
fee of life has been overwhelmingly
too great for even German wireless
which was part of the prearranged
to support the early claim of victory
plan of battle. Their capture of
territory, prisoners and material
will not stand comparison with the
loot of their comparatively bloodless
Offensives in Italy and Russia The
price has been so high that they are
on the verge of bankruptcy. and
like bankrupt, prepared for still
more desperate throws. For nobody
here makes the mistake OF believing
that the enemy's offensive resources
are yet exhausted IT is considered
probable that he will seek to main
tain the war OF maneuver, possibly
by thrusts elsewhere, however slow
the pace, IN the vainglorious hope of
crushing encircling movement at
one or the other extremity OF the new
salient, even if Amiens, Abbeville.
the sea and all his first great hopes
have eluded him.
On the other hand, the British
plan of steady retreating and
grueling defensive has succeeded,
and the allied counter measures have
not yet been received. Attacks by
British and French aimed deep into
the elbows of the salient are among
the possibilities of the day which the
enemy is already trying TO forestall
by an offensive defensive thrust at
Arras.
The situation is speculative en-
ough for hopes to run extravagantly
high in some quarters. Our Good
Friday preachers have been remind
ing us how the fate of humanity was
once transformed in these three days
of Eastertide, how the spirit of the
world was dead and none knew at
the time except by faith how soon it
rose again. Once more the world is
hushed with expectancy, and, though
sorely vexed, yet never more con-
slant in faith that the Spirit will pre-
vail over the brute forces Of hell