Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-27
WHO WON THE WAR?

Every nation that fought Germany and her Allies is
convinced that it won the war. The natural propaganda
which each nation instincttvely undertakes, has got going
full blast since the armistice, teaching its own popuIq-,
ton that their armies and no others principally won the
war. . .#fF@'-f
The French, who did bear the brunt. proclaim their
victory. The British, whose fleet drew close the block
ade, are confident they won the war. The Italians, who
actually did win in the field the most prodieious victory
in modern history, will demonstrate that Italy's Austen
ton in 1914 saved France, that her later participation
absorbed Austrias energy for two years. and that the
italian overthrow Of the Hapsburs empire forced Ger
many to capitulate.
Likewise Russia puts in a good claim to the honor
OF having by her superb sacrifices saved the Western
Allies. But for the Russian invasion Of East Prussia the
Battle Of the Marne might have been the doom Of France.
But for Erusilovs attack in volhynia the Germans might
have taken verdun. The defeat Of Russia by Germany
cost the latter too much. so that she fell short Of a de-
cision over France and Britain.
Even little Serbia might attribute to herself a deci-
sive share and does claim that her heroes prevented
an overpowering Ger1man-Austrian combination on any
front. 55-
And by like reasoning and even more plausibility,
America can argue that the American armies won the
war, first by turning the tide beginning at Belleau
Wood, and then by cutting the main artery Of German
communications BY the astounding success Of the Ar
gonne-Ieuse operations. The American reinforcement,
it is certain, changed the morale of the Anglo-French
armies. AS General Gouraud says, The morale Of any
army can be changed in twenty minutes And morale,
letsNapoleon remind US, is ninety per cent Of what an
army amounts to. ., m
Who won the war, will be a matter Of dispute among
the nations for the next generation, and the subsequent
Judgment Of the historians who have had all the evil
dence presented them, will likely be divided.
Who won the war? The best answer we have 30 far
seen il that BY George Pattulo, the writer who has been
tower there from the first and Is still there. He CON
clndes: Tho British fleet, the French, British ana Rus
sdan armies saved civilization through four long years
fSsvar. But God Aln1ishtysswon 1t. ana the United states
wssscertatnly His instrument to give the finishing
strokes. y
That u 4 conclushon which silences contention. and
beaides - me only one that contents the mind as IN any
wIss adeouate.s r. there bs . Directive Power It work
insths a&airs q men. one wonders that 20 vast . casas.
trophs - svsr necessary IN the scheme Of things. Blu,
saaoe it ala occur. one wonders how the world managed
tx ssnaps the wore tsae from II, unless there was some
hsBisn tnflenes that zbaGlsd the German designs and
throash a~cctdsnts e ne Allies wrought salvation. And
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