The Dominion. TUESDAY, MIAY 7, 1918. A MASSAGE FROM THE ARMY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 195, 7 May 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MIAY 7, 1918. A MASSAGE FROM THE ARMY

Mr. Lloyd George has returned from Franco bearing a message from the Army which will not be appreciated at its true worth without taking full account of tho all-import-ant part the moral factor plays in war. General Foc'k, a noted exponent of the art of war, as well »s a great strategist, once said: "A battle, then, can only be lost morally. But, if so, it is also morally that a battle is won." Sweeping as it is, tho aphorism embodies a "great truth. Somo reservations suggest themselves, but time and again in tho history of warfare superior resolution has enabled an army to prevail over greater material force. The message which . the British Prime Minister took back from Franco came from armies that are calmly and cheerfully confident after enduring for more than six weeks the most terrible ordeal to which armies have ever been subjected, and in virtue of that fact it represents a splendid assuranco and guarantee of their ultimate victory. Easy optimism is not unknown amongst those who view the events of the war from a distance. The confidence of tho soldiers with whom Mb. Lloyd George conversed rests upon a very different 5 foundation. It is the confidence of men who have home, the brunt of tho enemy's desperate efforts to snatch a victory and in the light of that experience are confident of their ability to defeat all that he may yet attempt. With such a spirit animating its armies, tho British nation is well able to face the future, however formidably the enemy's efforts may develop now and as time goes on. Tho nation must prove itself worthy of its armies, and not less resolute, but if these demands are satisfied the result is not in doubt.

While the British Prime Minister's statement is first and chiefly notable as expressing the unconquerable spirit of our armies, it is at the same time interesting as indicating how the military situation in its material aspects is viewed by soldiers who are in direct touch with its realities. The views of generals and others epitomised by Mr. Lloyd Georgb seem to centre in a belief that in the Western offensivo upon which hm has so freely staked his remaining resources tho enemy has over-reached himself, and that if ho is not' already conscious of tho fact ho will be before his adventure has developed much beyond its present stage. It is very freely admitted that during the first few days of tho struggle affairs went badly from the Allied point of view. But the enemy has failed signally to build upon this initial advantage. The story of the conflict in all its later developments, as it is told by soldicrs.is that the enemy has paid a full price for all the ground ho has gamed, and that the prico is increasing. Wide stretches of country, including famous battlefields and battle positions, have passed to the enemy since ho launched his offensive, but his losses, which from the first were enormous, arc increasing, and tho balance has not yet been struck.

The indomitable resolution displayed by tho Allied armies, and not least by our own ga'lant Army, is as far as possible from justifying an attempt to minimise the clangers that arc still in sight. But there are some very definite grounds for holding that Germany's prospects of success in her effort to force a decision before America can bring her weight to bear arc not growing brighter. One cablegram from Washington to-day observes that the renewal of the German offensive will very soon lead to a serious situa-

tion unless, sufficient reserves arc available. If it is to lie read as implying a. doubt, this is n. somewhat more pessimistic comment on the situation than information generally seems to warrant, but in any case it seems to be Clearly established that America, is sending forward reserves much more rapidly than could possibly have been expected. Tho essential significance of recent messages from America and relating to that country's military effort is in the satisfactory evidence they supply that the United States authorities arc keenly alive to the necessity of straining every nerve to adequately second and support the armies which arc now. coping with the enemy in France and Flanders. It is plain enough also that they are not exerting themselves to this end in vain. Mr. Lloyd George his said that a good number of Americans are already in Francethere are, in fact, half a million or more—and that many more will pour in during May. A still more definite indication of tho lines upon' which America is working appeared in a message relating to the mobilised strength of the American Army which was published yesterday. It stated that there are 1.800,000 Americans now on service (this, perhaps, includes the naval personnel), but that in July, not more, at most, than three months ahead, the American Army will aggregate 2,300,000. i'hese particulars suggest not only that the American Government is rapidly adding to tho number of men in training, but that it is confident of being able to find transport for a very large number of men in the comparatively near future!. As a means of blocking tho transportation of American troops tho submarine has utterly failed, and tho arrangement under which American troops are being in part equipped meantime by France and Britain of course makes it possible to transport a largely increased number of men in a given timo. A great speeding up in recruiting and training soldiers is one aspect of America's response to the demand that lias arisen in the "Western theatre. Another as striking is tho brigading of American troops with French and British units so that they can take an active part sooner and in much larger numoers than would otherwise have been possible. Though the enemy has been compelled to broaden bis attacks and disperse his efforts where he had hoped to gain his end by a single titanic thrust, the strain of repelling his onslaught is far from being ended. It is quite possible s that Wining weeks or even months may witness battles as desperate a3 those which havo been fought sinco March 21. But the high confidence which inspires our armies and is in itself an earnest of ultimate victory is warranted on all grounds. The two great facts which stand out at this time are that in his efforts to make tho most of a temporary material and numerical superiority the enemy is being magnificently met, and that the Allies, and moro especially America, are rapidly developing resources which tho enemy cannot hope to rival.