The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-08-16
ALLIES ACHIEVE
THREE BIG AIMS
Convincing Proof of Fighting
Efficiency of Americans
Given to Hun.
PARIS NOW OUT OF DANGER
Importance of Drive. However,
Must Not Be 0verestimated,
Says Expert.
BY HAYWOOD BRouN.

contingent Of American forces sent to
France as war correspondent for the
New York Tribune and had exceptional
opportunities to study conditions on
the Western front.)
1t Is evident now that General Foch
has delivered a smashing blow against
the German army In his counter at
tack. His blow has achieved three
definite results. 1t has put Paris prac-
tically out Of danger, 1t has impaired
the morale of the German army and II
has offered convincing proof of the
fighting efficiency Of the American
army These things are more lmpor>
tant than the capture of prisoners and
guns, although the toll of each has
been sufficient to constitute distinct
material loss to the German army
1t will be we'll If American public
opinion is not led to overestlmate the
Importance of the drive. No good will
come of any belief that the retreat in
dicates a general smashup of the Ger
man army. There seems to be no
ground for such an opinion. This may
indeed be the beginning of the end, but
there is still powerful military ma
chine to be dealt with. 1t is not even
probable that the German army has
absolutely lost the initiative. There
may still be German offenslves of
great power. But the situation of
March is not likely to be repeated. A
balance of power has been restored on
the West front If not preponderance.
Ready to Strike Back.
Under the earlier German blows Foch
was compelled to maintain a strictly
defensive attitude. The increase in
power contributed by the Americans
gives him a sufflciency of reserves to
strike back whenever good opportu-
nifty offers. But the present drive
which has smashed the Germans is not,
strictly speaking, an allied offensive.
1t has been a movement TO turn the
Germans out of newly won positions
and to keep them on the move once the
dislodgement was effected. A general
allied offensive may be expected just
rs soon as distinct preponderance of
power has been established by the al
lies That moment Is in sight. The
rate at which American troops are GO
ing to France assures Foch of the ultl-
mate possession of a force large
enough to put the Germans on the de-
fensive all along the line. Great re-
suits may well be expected then.
For the present there should be en- !
couragement enough in the present
short of the overoptlmistic predictions
of few The talk which We heard
few days ago Of pinching off the entire
army of the crown prince was not very
well founded. After all, there are even
narrower salients on the front than
the Marne pocket OF course Ludcn- |
dorff's explanation of how it all hap |
pened is somewhat sophistlc While it
is true that he has been able to eX-
trlcate his army without having it en-
tirely destroyed, the German General |
STAFF can hardly pride Itself ON having |
ventured into q position which made |
so precipitate retreat necessary. The |
movement has been too fast for leu |
tonic comfort In many parts of the line.
Enemy Seeks to Gain Time.
The German policy during the re-
treat has been to gain time. While 1t |
Is true that the Germans had no in
tentlon of making a permanent stand |
at some of the points where they re-
sisted the allied advance, they did have |
every intention of slowing up their
pursuers, and this they have notably |
failed to do.
The German retirement above and |
below Albert may mean ali abandon |
ment of advanced positions all along |
the line. But 1t is probable that the |
Germans will hazard at least one more |
thrust before they settle down definite |
ly to the defensive warfare which will |
be forced upon them In a few months.
The tradition of German invlncibili- |
ty. which had been carefully rebuilt |
after the Verdun failure, is down |
again. The German soldier knows now |
that retreat is a word he must accept. |
He has learned TO go back, and in his
forced marches away from Paris he |
has become somewhat less efficient |
soldier. German confidence has been |
shaken. This Is the first step in still |
more violent catastrophies which are |
to fall on the Teuton armies
The big job Is still to be done, but |
there is every reason for optimism.
America knows now that she possesses |
the sort of men who can give the allies |
the aid they need. The only necessity
now is to keep the men and the sup |
plies moving as they have done from |
our shores TO France. To do this it is
hardly necessary to say that money is |
necessary, more money than was ever
raised before in the histo"y of the
world. There Is just one way to make |
sure that this money will be forthcom- |
ing IN the quantity needed to keep our
troops going And that is for the In I
dividpal American to make 1t his per- |
sonal concern to see that all that he /
has to lend is converted into Liberty /
Bonds.