Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-07
Expect Yankees
To Turn TeutOnS
Continued from PAGE Ono


and needless to say, written in the
language of triumph when the news
is good from the German point of
view, Lately. during the enemy's
thrust against the French between
Scissors and Rheims, these daily bull
letins apparently had the effect of in
spring the German troops, and the
prisoners talk with great confidence of
decisive victory for their people this
year.
That hope will no doubt fritter away
like so many others when It Is seen
that the last advance has been checked
and that the losses are piling up again,
but meantime it must be as good. or
almost as good, as meat and drink to
famshed men.
Once again there is lull In the
enemy's operations and the prophets
are forecasting the next move IN the
German game. new gathering or
reserves for another crash toward
British to strike toward the coast. 1t
is impossible for me to tell. for the
decision rests with the enemy's su-
preme command, and the enemy's
preparations all along the line and
the disposition of his reserve forces
enable him to mobilize rapidly on the
battle line when he thinks it best
suits his immediate purpose.
In any case, think it Is certain
that after another brief breathing
space the enemy will launch another
heavy attack against the French and
British troops, and will never rest for
longer time than it takes to make
the necessary arrangements for bat
tie during the whole of this summer
and autumn. The Germans high COM
mand knows that If victory is not OBJ
tained during the next five months
they will have to return again to
defensive warfare, with a fresh Amer
ican army against them and with the
initiative once more in the hands of
the Allies; so into the five months
they will crowd all their ferocious ef
forts to break, like wounded beast,
the net which incloses them.
Five Months Long Time
Five months is a long time. Five
weeks has been sometimes long enough
to decide the fate of nations, and five
days to settle the fortune of the great
est battle. So the next five months
may be- long strain on the French
and British and American troops, and
upon the peoples who watch from afar
! the movements of this struggle, not
| understanding the reasons for certain
actions and the causes of occasiona
| misfortune or of loss in life ant
ground, but believing in the promise OF
success at last.
1t would be idle to pretend that ir
/ the next five months we shall not bt
faced with the greatest threat thai
ever challenged Great Britain ant
France since the war began with the
enemy's tidal wave over Belgium ant
northern France. The enemy Is skill
full and strong and he has learned al
that this war can teach him.
What is the art OF war?" said. Ma
poleon to one of his officers, and an
swered his own question, 1T is the tai
ent of being stronger than your enem!
at a given moment" The Germans
have put that axiom into practice, ant
they will try to do so again. Thel
have many advantages of position an,
all the skill of the lAlied command will
be needed to prevent them from bring
ing their strength to bear at a givei
moment of their own choice.
Must Face Facts
It is necessary to stare all this ii
the face frankly. without camouflae
ing it's reality. BY good fortune we ar
still confident of holding our owl
until the danger is passed, because w
still have great armies in making w
may rely utterly upon the courage o
our men, and as every week passe
there is growing up beside and benin
powerful army of fresh and splendi
quality, which will come into the ba
; tie line In full strength when tn
enemy is nearing exhaustion.
The army of the United States i
spreading over great tracts of Franc,
and is a guarantee that when we hav
held the enemy for five or six month
| more there will be no doubt in tn
! long run Of our safety and liberty. ]
is American soldiers who will have tn
3 luck. we hope, to give the final deaf
) blow to German mlitarism, thoug
i the French and British people SUI
4 enormous suffering, which only futur
generations will fully realize.