The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-22
THE WEEKS war REVIEW
! WIKI TEN FOR The TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
BY f47i Zu1WAII
THE PROSPECT IS BRIGHTER

The past week has been q favor
able one for the allies. BY the begin
ming Of the week the German drive
OF the week before had broken down
before the stout defenders OF Com
peigne and the road to Paris. Early
in the week the Austrtans hurled praS-
tically their entire strength against the
Italian lines from the mountains to
the sea and were held almost In their
tracks with tremendous losses. In
minor attack of considerable size be-
fore Rheims the Germans failed to
gain an inch.
Crisis Is Not Passed
Yet It would be fatal mistake to
suppose that the crisis had passed.
linden burg still has a large reserve Of
fresh divisions which have not partic-
ipated in any of this years fighting.
and at any moment he may huri
them at some vital spot in the allied
line. When he throws in his last big
force OF fresh reserves the real crisis
Of the war will come.
When Will the Next Blow Conner
When he will strike and where Is
the big problem that the allied COM
manders are seeking to solve. Mean
while American troops are pouring
into France in large volume and II
the German does not strike soon. his
opportunity will pass The next big
blow, therefore, cannot long be de-
layed.
Between verdun and Channel.
It seems quite certain that the next
battle will be fought somewhere be-
tween verdun and the En~lish cham
mel The country between verdun and
Switzerland is rough and i'll suited to
rapid and overwhelming attack. The
high hills, deep valleys and thick
woods give every advantage to the de-
tenders and would make the advance
of the attacker slow. even If he could
break the line in front OF him. More
over there is no vital strategic point
close to this part OF the front and
success that might be disastrous 10
the allies nearer Paris or the channel
ports. would be fruitless of any great
advantage in northeastern France.
May Hold Next Drive, Too.
The prospect of holding the next
big German drive is much brighter
In the first place there must be be-
tween four and five hundred thousand
American troops that, in a desperate
emergency. could be thrown into the
fight 1t is to be hoped that such
measures will not be necessary, as
many of these troops ara inexperi-
enced and the losses would be out of
proportion to the fighting they could
do. 1t would be far better to hold
them for an allied offensive next year
| IL possible. when they will have COM
| pleted their training and seasoning
and would be at their best as fight
| ing units.
Not S00,O 900 Fighting Troops.
Some will Jump to ne conclusion
! that because we have yer 100000
| in France, something like that num-
F! Der could be thrown into battle. No
| such force, however. IN actually avail
! able.s In a statement to the senate
/ military committee, Secretary Baker
stated that, of forces sent to France.
about 40 per cent would be noncom-
blatant troops and only about so per
more than $50, 0oJ could now be avail
able for use in actual fighting. From
| that number must be subtracted units
are not yet, and cannot for some
weeks, be organized for duty In the
! fighting zone.
German Has Shown His Hand.
| Another factor that ought TO be II
the allies favor in any future attack
/ is the fact that the German has shown
| his hand. Foch knows the method
| that he is using and has had time tc
| prepare to meet It. That fact MAJ
| have had q great deal to do with the
successful defense of Compeigue and
Rheims and the Venetian plains.
/ The success of the first three heavy
blows hurled against the British and
| French seems to have been due very
largely to three factors that are very
closely related.
The first is the element OF sururisa