The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-10-05
THE WEEKLY
WAR REVIEW
BY Reverend Morrison Bethea
Who Shows the Dangerous
Situation of Germany if
THEIR LINES ARE CUT

The most encouraging features in
the news of the past week are the
submission of Bulgaria, the cap
ture of Damascus and the progress
of the Allies in Belgium.
The Bulgarian situation is rather
obscure. 1t may mean that this
country is going to be truly neutral
till the close of the war, thus cutting
the line of communication between
Germany and Turkey and so fore
ing the submission of Turkey also;
or it may be ruse on her part to
secure a respite till she can collect
her scattered forces and receive
German re-inrorcements. King Fer
dinand of Bulgaria is probably the
most treacherous and INSCRIPTIONS
ruler who ever sat on a throne. If
left to him 30 will deceive the Allies
With false offers of peace until he
can get an opportunity to hetr"-
them. 1t may be, however, that the
people of Bulgaria have realized T.
they have all to lose and nothing to
gain in continuing the war and so
they have determined to disregard
their ruler and consider themselves.
The progress in the Holy Land is
one of the most encouraging fea-
lures of the whole war. All the land
made sacred by the presence of the
Saviour and hallowed by His foot
steps has been rescued from the do
Of the Turk and is again un-
der the centrSl of Christian rulers.
Damascus the great stronghold on
the north is the largest city that has
ever been taken by the Allies. 1t
has 250,000 inhabitants and great
wealth and resources as CONNER
cial and manufacturing center. The
British have advanced far beyond
this place and it seems probable that
they will soon connect up with the
army advancing up the Euphrates
valley and form front too long 10
be resisted by the Turks.
The rapid advance in Belgium
must be either stopped or the Ger
mans will lose their mold on the
ports of that country. We must re-
that practically all the sub
marine bases are in Belgium. The
German coast is so far and the mine
fields in the North Sea so dangerous
that the capture of the Belgian coast
will reduce the submarine menace
more than halt. Then as soon as this
advance reaches the Dutch border, il
might turn southwark and outfank
the entire northern end of their
lines.
The German line from the North
Sea to Verdun is roughly represented
by two sides of triangle. There
are only three lines of railroad lead
ing into this triangle. Two are near
the southern edge and one on the
very northern border. An advance
by the Americans from Verdun would
cut two of these lines and an ad-
vance by the Belgians towards the
Dutch border would cut the other.
These lines are now taxed to the ut
most to feed and munition the Ger
nan armies, the cutting of even one
If them might prove disastrous So
10 matter what takes place elsewhere
he Germans must hold at Bruges
Ind Verdun. A break at either
)lace would mean ruin. They real
re this as well as we do and are
nassing their picked troops at these
POINTS.
Watch the Americans. A thirty
I've mile advance from Verdun
would cut both lines of railway and
more than a million Ger
mans who would be left without sup
lilies or means of retreat. It all de-
,ends on the next few days. II the
Germans can hold, the war will con-
inue over into next year. If we can
,eak through, 1t will all be over be-
ore Christmas.