Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-05-31
FOLLOWS PLAN OF LAST BATTLE


mans the first bite in the fight and the battle commenc
ing Monday was exception. The attacking army al
ways has the advantage under conditions as they are IN
France with battle front of many miles, for 1t can con-
centrate its troops in advance and when ready nun at
the enemy much larger force than ne can assemble to
meet it. This has been the German plan to which the
allies have submitted except in the where Cen
era Byng tried the plan instead and taking the Huns by
surprise drove their defenses and penetrated the
famous Hindenburg line for twelve fifteen miles, In
this case the allied troops concentrated for the at
tack and the Germans caught unprepaIed Ii the
British had followed up this drive should have done
there every reason to believe the would have ended
then and there 1t the fatal stopping and this with
out Strengthening their hold that permitted the Germans
to gather their and chase the British back The
present drive Of the German like every other they have
made has resulted in gains and for the reasons above
stated That the Germans will be able to penetrate the
allied lines break through is not believed for the
further they advance the difficult it to keep the
army supplied with munitions and food. Besides the
wedge shaped ground captured lays the enemys fanks
open and at the time doubles the length of his lines
1t is likely the story of the last battle will be repeated
that the allied armies will keep falling back inflctng as
much damage as possible the enemy and finally wear
ing him out At least this is apparently the plan just now
1t is enough to make the late John Sherman who faith
cred what is known the Sherman law restraining
corporations from combining in restraint OF trade turn
over in his grave as the Interpretation of the law is
dered nowadays. The government which not long ago
was separating the big companies into their component
parts Of so many small companies did with Standard
OIL is now busiy engaged in joining the companies to-
geher under its own direction as it has the railroads. and
has adopted the theory that the bigger the company the
better 1t cuts overhead charges and does away with
whole lot Of other expenses. AS evidence of this
tendency the uniting as one company OF the four big eX
press companies is the latest example This accom-
plished Tuesday The Adams American Wells Fargo,
and Southern combined by agreement with Director Of
Railroads McAdoo and the new company with capital
stock of $50 1000 will perhaps be named the Federal
Apparently it is politics that is keeping General Wood
away from Europe, but the latest developments show it
is the politics played by General Wood himself and not
by someone ese He so conducted himself while in France
to win the dspeasure of General Pershng and it was
at the laters request that he ordered home The
administration has given General Pershing free hand
and whatever he says concerning the army and its move
ments and management in France goes as he wants it.
General Wood has nobody to blame but himself for the
position he finds himself in and he can depend it the
president will not go the head of General Pershng
to give Wood command in France and under the man
who does not want him.
Just what the new state sediton laws of Nebraska are