Evening star., 1944-09-10
impending Victory
Unseen in 1918
People Are Held Better Posted
During This Conflict.
By George Kennedy.

BY George Kennedy.
There was little realization in WASH
ington during the first week Of Septem-
Der, 1918. that victory might come
before winter. Military critics were be-
ginning to write that the war no longer
could be lost. They were forecasting
victory for 1919. Optimistic as the
American people are inclined to be, they
were not far ahead. They thought of
fighting all the way to Berlin, and splen-
did as the advances on the Marne and
the Somme had been, the 1 and mile
gains of the headlines seemed only steps
in the 300-mile march to the German
capital.
1t is little hard to recapture our
attitude on that war. There had been
nothing like 1t in our experience. Con-
f1dence In 1914 that 1t could not last
long because 1t was too costly had been
dispelled. In the summer of 1918 book
by European posing modern war as
new way of life on his continent and
predicting that it would continue with
out interruption for several generations
received serious front-page review in
the New York Times Sunday book
section.
A then-and-now comparison leaves
one surprised that this war Is not already
over. All the military disasters that
brought about the end OF the last war
have been exceeded. The German line
in France, which was repaired after
every break In 1918, has disappeared.
The Italian front, which was difficult for
the Germans to maintain in 1918, is just
as difficult now. In 1918 the eastern
front kept only few German divisions
in Finland to see that Russia kept its
agreement to get and stay out of the
war Today it keeps more than million
German soldiers engaged in disas-
trous series of battles. And the with
drawal OF Bulgaria, which started the
train Of events ending in the armistice
Of 1918, has already occurred.
Washington enjoyed pleasant summer
weather in that first week of September,
1918. The month opened with the
first gasolineless Sunday. Washington's
10000 automobiles stayed of the streets.
In fact, the streets were virtually empty,
for every family that had owned one,
except for few Georgetown cliff dwell
ers. had sold the carriage horse in the
preceding decade. President Wilson and
Mrs. Wilson drove to church in victoria
behind team Of bays still kept in the
White House stables Secret Service
men followed in another horse drawn
vehicle.
The next day the Labor Day message
assured the war worker that he was as
important as the man at the front.
Thomas Masaryk called on Secretary
Lansing at the State Department and
Czechoslovakian troops fighting with the
Allies were recognized as those of a
co-belligerent, another event in the birth
OF nation. Suggested appointment OF
former Representative c. A. Lindbergh
OF Minnesota (father of the aviator) to
the War Industries Board was protested
SNSa1SS "a AAAo PoIAAkoliis n youIl6 NOllldIl
attempted to assassinate Lenin. Edi-
torial writer's likened her to Charlotte
Corday. Ludendorff completed his
shortening Of the elbowlike line north of
Paris. German communiQues on the re-
treats were repeatedly using the phrase,
according to plan" The Kaiser in his
Sedan day message said, IT know that
tho uypN1a
ready for all sacrifices"
The American military critic with the
greatest following in that day was Frank
H. Simonds, whose syndicated writings
appeared in The Star He wrote: 1--WE
may win the war on the battlefield this
year; there is chance but only
chance. This is not our year to win,
but his. He has had his chance and
failed; our chance can only come surely
next year"
The last paragraph of The Stars edi-
torial Of September was prophetic. 1t
read:
"Yet collapse Of the German Army
may come suddenly without much warn
ing. If the thought permeates the ranks
that victory is utterly impossible and
that further sacrifices are useless. Con-
f1dence in the leaders cannot fail to
wane as defeat follows defeat. And
this loss Of face will have a large part
IN determination of the issue, which
now is really merely one of time"
Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt
shouted "Shin ehir hoorottp