Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-10-22
America and the War.
tFrom an article by A. g. g.. In the Lond
Times. July N.)

6u Axt1Cso W - 0' Sst ~ s>~S
Times, July 80
1t was ono of Napoleon's explanations
of bis failure that wherever there was
water enough to sail cockboat be found
the British seaman. When the Kaiser,
10 whatever retirement that may be re-
served for him, comes to reflect on his
failure he will find the capital cause OF
IL In the same fact. The science,
weapons, and strategy Of war have been
revolutionised since the days of Nspo.
leon. but the elemental relation OF sea
and land to war has not changed. The
sea still commands the land and behind
all the Visible surges and clashes Of the
war on land the real wrestle has bes1 for
the possession Of tho sea. It would have
been enough for the Kaiser's purpose to
have neutrslixed the sea-msde 1t, that
is, impracticable for both sides. II be
could have neutralized tho sea he would
have won. Failing to neutrslizs it-and
Il 10 now fairly certain that be has
failed, though the danger 10 still con-
siderable inevitably loses. The sea
remains, as Il has been throughout the
war, the most potent ally of bis enemies
and the dictator of tho Issue.
THE KAIsKR's MscALCULATIoHs.
But II he puts British sea power - the
first cause Of bis eclipse, he will have
little doubt - to the second. II mis-.
calculated America" We may imagine
him saying. or course, II he could have
neutralixed the sea, and 20 isolated
America that would not have mattered.
But With the sea open, America WAS a.
ways the deciding potentiality IN the
struggle. The Kaiser made two car
dinal miscalculations In regard 70 that
factor. In the first place, he believed
that hs could neutralize America from
within and bully her from without; 10
the second, be believed that he could
anticipate her action and end the var
before bar weight ID the scale, conld be
decisively felt. He now knows that he
miscalculated In tho second case -
disastr strously, % in the frst. Tho Inn
pressiys fact. Of this summer is that
America 10 . realized asset, and the re-
sult Ia represented BY the momentous
change that has come over the face OF
The war during the past few weeks. ~
n The change has two main sspects-the
one military, the other economic. 1t is
not too soon nov to- sssQme that the
peril of the German offensive 10 over.
There may still be blow In tho north,
though the break'iu the weather, With
Its customary effeot Of cbursing up the
Flanders mud. seriously interferes With
such an intention, But it y not CON
oeivable, after the complete and costly
failure to get through to Paris, that the
enemy will have either the, material, or
the moral weight for another blow which
cannot be oountered. II anything may
b safely predicated In war u 10 that the
Channel ports arc safe, that Paris ID
safe, that tho initiative has passed from
The enemy TO tho Allies. and that Ger
many 10 opce more, and this time dnAIly,
on tho defensive on the Western front.
THE AMERICAN ARMY.
And this 10 due primarily 10 the fsot
|that In the race between Germany and
America, America has won. Inthe four
months that have followed tho black
days OF March, over a.milllon msa have
| been transported across the Atlantic and
| q the present moment Il ID probable
Itha nearer million and half than
IN million and 9 quarter Of American SOL
tdisrs sre In France. Q DuFlpg last month
lsthe total brought Oyer exceeded the
[spormous figure Of SOC. 900. At the pres
lent rate there will ba oysr tRor nillions
Hmm edi ately available By pthe yautumn,
land It il. fairly ceItain that there Will he
Enot fewer than three millious BY next
Ispring. sas !
+ Add Il 10 not 'npmbers alone which
lmake the mighty army .formidable. On
Hike the material o. the nations which
khave been pouring out their best blood
flor four years, II 10 tho cream OF o great
nation, tho picked men between 81 and
leo, physically equal 70 any race os thle
Eeertb, intellectually Of higher general
kstandafd, perhaps, than any sacs and
tphsresd with that moral ssnthuslssu
Which every great soldier from nCroHi'
Eweals doxnWasdss ihaa srsckousd 70 b
}ths most Important weapon In rxef
Against, this sRoywopl realised fAet, Ger
knasE,ean present no equivalent. The
&Kasser has lost bic Facs with tho
Rrssidsnt. His momsBthas gone and
IL csuuot feturu. e He may sustain Z
Sisfensivs VA for months, even for yearS
bat he san oeseE pscoasrfhsio2easeve.
i 5sx vArynssr rnru,spus 30