Mexico Missouri message., 1918-10-31

be granted Germany until her cities,
her towns and her people have suf-
fered some of the horrors Of war that
her brutal soldiers have inflicted on
Belgium, northern France and Serbia.
The absolute unrepentance of the
Huns for their outrages Is shown by
their action in looting and wantOnly
destroying the towns in France from
which they are being driven and in
their practice OF carrying away with
them thousands Of the helpless inhab-
itants who are forced to work for
them like slaves. The formal warning
Of France that there would be retribu-
ton for these shameful deeds has been
disregarded. and If adequate punish
ment is not inflicted there will be
general feeling that justice has mis-
Carried.
President Wilson and his confiden-
tial advisers, it Is said, still believe
the German people will rise in revo-
luton and oust the HOhenzollern crew,
and his inquiry as to whom Prince
Max represents is significant in that
connection. The chancellor, In his
speech to the reichstag, undertook
rather feebly TO demonstrate that re-
cent political changes actually had put
the people In power and that he was
their representative. But all that was
looked on as bunk.
The diplomatic situation resolved II"
self down to this: The German gov
ernment must either admit defeat and
surrender on allied terms or It must
confess that the chancellor was not
acting in good faith. That Is the hole
in which President Wilson has placed
Prince Max and his associates.
IA
The greatest blow delivered by the
allied armies last week was between
Cambrai and st. Quentin. There Field
Marshal Halg's tireless forces, re-en-
forced by American divisions, tore n
20-mile gap through the strongest Of
Hindenburg's boasted defenses, cap
turing dozens of villages and many
thousands of prisoners and on Wednes.
day occupied the long and des-
perately defended city of Cambria.
The Huns, in full flight, blew up most
of Cambrai and burned Bohain, Mar
Ctz and many another beautiful town,
hut the allies did not even stop to eX-
tingulsh the flames. The enemy ap-
parently was attempting to recOnsti-
tute his lines back of the Selle
river from lie Cateau to SOlesmes, so
Haig's troops, led by the cavalry,
pushed rapidly forward and the big
guns followed so fast that they kept
| the Huns always under fire. Only the
German machine gunners put up cred.
! table defense, the rifemen who could
be overtaken generally surrendering
willingly. Prisoners said the German
plan was to retreat to the Valenciennes
line and then to the Meuse, and 1t was
evident the retirement of the German
armies from France was well under
way. They will fight all the way back
TO their borders, of course, but the
country Is open and the tanks and cav.
airy of the allies will have daily In
creaslng opportunity to do their part
The Germans still have the strength
| u
and If the war is ended by military
decision, II Is admitted the Huns may
be able to postpone that inevitable
event for many months. When they
do reach the Meuse they will be be
lind powerful defenses, but the ma
ture Of those defenses is known to tn,
allied commanders, and so far as tht
fOrtifications there are concerned, tn,
immense sum just asked of congress
for American artillery may be take
to indicate the tremendous concentra
ton OF gunfire that will be used L
batter them to pieces.
IA
While their comrades were helpin
the British in the great drive in tn
C6mbrai region, the American Firs
army was exceedingly busy west Q
the Meuse. For many days the dough
boys battled their way through the Al
gonne forest. and at the northern en-
OF It they went up against a conceI
tration Of Huns gathered for the d.
Tense of the Kriemhilde line. Pausln
to permit their artillery to pour
rain of shells on the German position
for 10 hours, the Yanks advanced I
the attack Wednesday, and by bri
liant and swift advance broke throug
the enemy line. To the right of the
other troops forced their way throup
the Cunel wood, and this made po
sible the storming Of the Mamel trenC
of the Kriemhilde position. The el
gineers were advancing right alor
wlth the infantry. clearing the we
through the entanglements. Importal
heights south Of the Marcq were ca
tured, and the Yankees Joined hanC