Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1918-06-14

limited. Half million casualties
40 far have made heavy drafts upon
them and removed a material frac-
tion OF his picked troops. And up
TO the present moment we are told
authoritively that America has been
able to put 100000 men into France,
at least half of whom must now be
or on the firing line. These
men are in all respects. save one.
better troops than Germany has or
can expect to have during the war.
They are young. the pick OF our
youth. physically the best now left
IN war-stricken Europe. Their
weakness lies in their lack al train
ing, but. under battle conditions,
this vii soon he largely removed.
Meantime superiority in the quality
of troops must count for something
against the superiority OF training
of the otherwise greatly inferior
German troops. There are left five
months OF campaigning in the pres
ent year. Before they are over Wa
should have more than 100000
troops in Europe. and upward OF
10000 on the line. Before this
time Is up Britain should have near
OF new levies. These two contribu-
tions should largely make good any
casualties the allies will suffer. con-
ceding the first three blows have
cost them and their foe 500 900 cas-
ualties apiece. Therefore, even II
the German maintains a superiority
OF numbers on the west front. II Is
certain that unless he destroys some
large fraction OF his opponents for
ces before November. ne will lose
the advantage OF number we'll In ad-
vance OF the close OF the campaign,
and with the loss OF this advantage
goes the power to deal decisive
blow.
All now turns upon the speed with
which our troops get to France and
the promptness with which they ara
thrown into the line. a prOmptness
only to be attained by temporarily
assigning our smaller units to our
allies. II the present pace II ship
ment be maintained and the existing
system OF brigading with the French
and British is continued. It Ia not
too much to hope that by August or
September Americas contribution
alone will suffice to deprive the Ger
man Of the superiority OF numbers.
without which he cannot enforce his
local victories by supreme thrust.
Thus the appearance of our troops
In Picardy and In Champagne Is
the certain sign of improving allied
prospects. The German seeing these
signs, must hasten his blows as Ma
pOleOn at Waterloo hastened bis
blows when Prussian columns were
sighted on the road from Warvre.
Qulckening the pace means increas-
ing the rapidity OF the exhaustion OF
numbers. 1t spells ultimate ruin II
AZ at Waterloo the victory finally es-
capes the assailant. but Wellington
would have been ruined at Waterloo
| II Blucher had failed to keep his
pledge and push to his assistance.
The allies will be destroyed II there
is any hesitation now either In the
sending OF our troops or the prompt
transfer OF those sent to the allied
service.
| II the German assault upon our
common civilization Is to be repuls-
ed. il must he repulsed by American
reserves arriving at the decisive
hour in the struggle. To-day we have
the first sure signs that a material
fraction is arriveing. Three months
OF acute anxiety are ahead or us.
| New and terrific German blows must
still be expected. hut the element or
time is already beginning to run
apainSt the German. He is still gain
| ign ground, but slowly losing his ad-
vantage in numbers He will lose it
definitely when our first million has
arrived Once h" loses it his defeat
in this war will no longer he doubt
ful: he can no longer disguise it
from his own people. The campaign
of 1915 j. another Waterloo cam
paign played for even greater stakes.
with numbers twenty-fold AS great.
but the conditions are StrikinEly
similar. And for our allies the ar
rival on the line Of Pcrshng's first
divisions has the same meaning that
the appearance of Bluchcr's advance
guards on Napoleon flank had for
Wellington 1903 years ago TINS
month Napoleon still believed he
could defeat Wcllinpton, in the bat
ltlr that followed he came very near
Ito success, but failure brought sure
land swift ruin. This is what the ap-
pearanc" Of American troops on the
line now means. II is III" promise
lif no, the guarantee of German ruin
lTorcv and Bourcchcs. Can,igny and
lChatoau Thi'rry, where American
Icffort was first exertod in the pres
lent struggle. may yet h"com" as en-
lduringlv famous as Plancenoit in
the earlier and far smaller Imperial
lconflict