Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1918 — THE SUPREME EFFORT OF KAISERISM [ARTICLE]

THE SUPREME EFFORT OF KAISERISM

The following editorial from the Indianapolis Star sums up the military situation in France in a way as to* encourage those who would make permanent defeat from what is no doubt only temporary reverses. That the situation is Critical and demands the extreme utmost effort from every American as well as our allies, can not and need not be denied, but, as the Star says, there is no real cause for feeling deeply depressed. The editorial is as follows: . The German drive on the west front is developing great intensity and is netting the enemy some gains in prisoners, munitions and area, but it should not be taken too seriously in this country. There is no occasion for throwing up hands in despair and assuming that defeat is just ahead, for it is not. The enemy is making the supreme effort of the war. He is risking all on this one great attempt at forcing a 001111317 decision, and unless he j gains that he will register a crush-, ing defeat. The people in central Europe have been buoyed up on stories of what would happen when Hinden- | burg was ready to strike on thei

west front. The recent debacle in Russia and the seizure of the western part of that empire have been held out to the Teutonic populace as further evidence that the German amis are invincible. The people behind the lines have been encouraged and induced to believe that the war will soon be over as a result of a crushing defeat to be delivered against the allies on the west front. Hindenburg has to make good or admit to his own people that Germany can not win. In furtherance of that program, and it is the only thing open to the Hohenzollerns and junkers if they would retain their prestige and positions, Hindenburg has launched a drive behind -which lie has massed every man and every gun Germany can bring to bear effectively. It is not at all surprising that he makes some progress. No man can stand in front of a cannon, and it was to be expected that the allies would yield ground at some points. That had been discounted in advance by military experts who looked into the future.

The thing to bear in mind is that it is too early yet to say what will develop, but it not too soon to realize that there is no occasion for alarm or pessimism. The Germans spent a summer and half a million men pounding away at Verdun. They advanced and took prisoners, but were foiled in the end. They made a drive into Italy recently that seemed to threaten the overthrow of that country, and weie stopped before they reached Venice. Nearlv four years ago they were within gunshot of Paris and were turned back. The allies have not been taken by surprise on the west front. They , have been preparing for such an offensive. Of course, they could not foresee just where the enemy would strike or what would develop at particular points along the line iof attack. But, in a large way, the allies are ready', and may be expected to give a good account of themselves. The battle probably will continue for days and may go on for weeks. We must expect reverses and gloomy days, but there is no reason to believe that we shall not triumph in the end. I The enemy is sacrificing his men by the tens of thousands. He can not keep that up indefinitely, and we can continue indefinitely to fight a defensive battle, yielding where holding would entail a price out of 1 proportion to any gain that might >be expected. The Germans can not j keep up an unsuccessful attack without incurring defeat. Another Verdun battle on a large scale would be an overwhelming allied victory. Hindenburg and the Hohenzolle.rns know that and are risking all. It is their supreme effort and probably the turning point in * the war. The average American is likely to become confused by the different lines of advide being given him j these days. First he is told that ihe must not curtail business, must , not draw in on expenditures, but ! that the success of the Allied cause can only be assured by keeping business normal. He is assured that business stagnation would be fatal to our plans, and must not [be permitted. On the other hand, he is urged to save, save, save. I This for the purpose of loaning to his government. There is a homejly old saying that “one can’t eat his cake and have it.” Americans ! would seem to be up against just I such a proposition—they cannot save and spend at one and the .same time. There must be a sensible medium somewhere; We must

keep business moving, of that there f can be no doubt, and this very naturally presupposes something like normal habits of life. On the other hand, we must also save, to meet the many calls upon us. If there is a Solomon among us, it ‘ seems about time he should come to the judgment. That message of sympathy from President Wilson to the people of Russia was not only the expression •of the sentiment of the American people, but rather a master stroke of policy as well. Lenine and his kind have never represented the masses of the people of Russia, and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that her teeming millions may yet develop a Moses who will ’ lead them from German bondage ‘ to the light and liberty of the free peoples of the earth.