Bisbee daily review., 1918-08-14
Looking the Facts Of
 tIte WGT in the Face!

evil of undue elation and a too florid enthu- siasm over our successes recently upon the western front. The tide of the war has just begun to turn q little in favor of the allies. When we come to consider the sober facts we find that, after four days of victorious offensive in which the correspondents, and even the official communications, described the enemy if full and headlong retreat, that the allies have reconquered only about one fifth of the great Amiens salient driven by the Prussians into the heart of our lines. In other words, the Germans, after sustain ing surprise attack, rallied and held our attacking forces before all their important towns and rail lines excepting only Mont didier Our last offensive was of only one fifth the power and success of the German drive a few months ago over this same ground It was here that the fifth British army went to pieces. First bulletins of re- cent battle indicated that the Germans were badly demoralized and even broken. Sun day bulletin came over the Associated Press stating that Chaulnes had been taken. Great things were expected. And then To, the drive was stopped in the full tide of victory Chaulnes was not taken. The same holds true of our Marne victory. We have ,retaken there only about half of the ground gained by the German Clown Ouince in his great May drive, and our gains represent only the easy part of this terrain to recover. We were stopped at the Vesle, a mere creek, and we still have the river Aisne to cross and the heights of the Chemin des Danes, wresed from us in a drive of twice the power of our attack last month.
 On the other hand, we have accomp- lshed great things We have turned the tide from critical retreat to a most pleas ing advance But we have long ways to go to win back to where we started from this year. Foch has not yet undertaken a really major offensive operation against the Hun. He seems to be trying to blunt the edges of dangerous salients. He Is seek ing to confuse the enemy by sharp and sud den attacks at different places along the line. He seems to be contented with short gains. He has attempted nothing sPectac- ular as yet, giving up his drive when faced with real opposition He is still saving his troops and his power It is to be doubted if he has drawn to any extent upon his strategic reserve While 1t Is hoped that the Germans have drawn heavily upon theirs. The Prussian has been severely punished. He has had a severe shock His plans for the balance of the 1918 campaign that started so brilliantly for him have been entirely upset. His unlimited manpower of March Is now limited to such an extent that he will fall back to save men, He Is giving up dearly won ground without fight ing to finish for every foot of 1t as has been his custom Maybe in September Foch will strike for blood But all the fight ing of the past month that has gone so well for the allies should be considered simply in the light of returning savage blows for past defeats. We are fighting back fiercely to regain some of that which we have lost. The German IS weaker than he was in March FOch Is stronger. But decision seems to be yet far distant The next seven months promise to be harder upon Amer ica than at any time during the war We are still getting ready to fight. Our finan- cial burdens will be at their apex We must bear a tremendous draft call. We must strain with might and main for more guns and ships. We must bear all the food re- strictions without the least let up. And all this without our efforts making any ap- parent impression upon the stubborn Ger man lines. BUT, when the fierce winds of next March do begin to blow, we can raise our eyes and expect to see some of the fruits of our toil and sacrifice. Our fleet of ships by then will be very large. Our rows of guns will loom large. Our airplanes will begin to be felt in Hunland Our sol-