Evening journal., 1918-07-23
VICTORY is OURS
(From the New York Sum

II General Foch's offensive between
Scissors and Chateau-Thierry pro
crosses no further than IL already he's
gone 10 VIII have achieved the highest
military objects. A new problem is
faced for the enemy; his important
lines Of communication are menaced
his forces must be redlstributed to
meet the altered situation, and he must
Immediately attack positions chosen BY
General FOch, or else withdraw HIS
armies over a considerable area TO re-
move them from positions now peril
Gus, II not unten0ble. This Is the most
conservative view Of the effects that is
permissible under the circumstances II
Is therefore plain that General Foch"s
troops have already won a great sue
cess; and the full measure OF its effects
which IS not yet in sight, may surpass
our most fervent hopes, and transform
the advance that began on July is into
0 victory for civilization Of far reaching
success.
IN this magnificent enterprise, com
pletely typical OF the genus In its
conception and execution OF Foch, our
soldiers have borne a notable and
honorable part. The exact extent Of
their participation Is withheld from
us by the War Department. but we
kno that they were permitted TO Join
the advancing French In considerable
cumhers, an. that In the performance
4 iLIe ddty they won th> applause
Of .4up own commander and OF the
experienced French officers under
whom. or side by side with whose
units they served. That they were
brave and enthusiastic as individuals
was established before; the fact that
the most delicate tasks were entrusted
10 them shows that they have advanced
In military training to a point satisfac-
tory TO their instructors, officers Of the
French and English armies grOwn wise
in war and schOoled to high Standards
by the relentless exigencies OF actual
combat. The faith that our men by
their aptitude and diligence inspired In
these masters OF the military science
has been justified on the field. We now
have not only the component parts OF
an army, but an army individually OF
:he best, professionally ut and inspired
by the noblCst OF purposes and the
most glorious Of traditions.
Indeed, what other army has ever
had the opportunity to absorb and
make its own such traditions as are
the honest heritage Of these men IN
khaki who on the battle front in France
defend their homes 5000 miles away?
Behind them is the record Of their own
predecessors in the uniform OF the
United States, the noble history OF the
arms Of France, supreme among ma
tions n the art OF war, and the glorious
history Of the British arms The knoWl-
edge, the standards, the achievements
Of all these institutions, all that is best
in them are by right Of training and
association possessions Of the sons OF
America who fight beside the French
aud the British not as strangers come
from afar, but as brothers reared in
the same school, filled with the same
ideals, and striving in generous rivalry
in the same great cause.
More gratifying than any other dc
tail Of this notable exploit OF arms, so
far as we Of America are concerned, Is
the fact that In the victories that have
been won our soldiers OF every class
have had opportunity to display their
worth and have vindicated their own
character and the system that trans
formed civilians into fighting men. The
Regulars and the Marines mad already
lived up 10 the splendid reputation they
possessed; now units Of the National
Guard Army and the National Army
have proved their mettle under fire. To
those who have watched with confl-
dence the inculcation of the military
habit into these men the confirmation