Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 1918. PEACE AT LAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 1918. PEACE AT LAST.

The clang and clamour of the pealing bells have announced the. arrival of the Peace the world has boon on the tiptoe of expectation for the last few days past. Peace is now rendered possible by the wonderful turn of events on the Western front. It has been hold all along that the masterstroke to end this war of millions would come from that quarter, and for odoc in a way,- the mill lory prophets have not been astray. It was in March last—nearly eight months ago—that Germany put forward her mighty effort to win a military decision in thi> west. Everywhere' else, the situation was not unsatisfactory, and a decisive stroke in,France offered prospects for a favourable peace move before America came into the war with all her zest and strength. The' Germans attacked ,in great hordes, and their surprising strength, for a time, carried all before them. The FrancoBritish line yielded at every point, and Germany seemed bent on two main objectives. the winning of the Channel Coast, the entry into Paris. Throughout April the outlook was very overeast. and Mav saw the enemy slowly gaining, but not as fast as they expected. their advance. In June a change was more apparent; the advance was brought to a stand-still almost; and where this was not so, the enemy began to make a detour, seeking bis objectives by a less direct route. Time was fighting on the side ot the Allies, who unknown to the enemy were increasing daily in strength. 1 lie more prolonged front the Germans were extending, the better did it suit the strategy of Marshal Focli, now in supreme command.- With superb patience the Generalissimo bided his time. Then just past mid-Julv, the Germans having spread their forces in a fan to sweep into Paris by way ol Rheims, Focli, with Franeo-Amerienn troops barring the direct route to Paris, delivered a determined cduuter-attnek. It succeeded admirably. The Allies broke through the German lines, and getting behind, imperilled the German forces to the right where they had spread fan-like down to tile Marne and out to Rheims. The blow was an unexpected one, and the enemy had to begin the reorganisation of their line just when they were ready for fresh blows, not only at the Marne, but also In Flanders. The first gains from F'och’s attack began to grow, and as the enemy were being thrown more and more into confusion, further Allied attacks at different points began to make their impression, and create greater confusion in the onemv lines, Important fighting took place at Rheims on the outer flank of the German front, originally destined to menace Paris. Pressed severely on both flanks, the enemy had to fall back, helter-skelter. With this important front in confusion the British began to opera to in the Arras,, region. Then a new Allied attack began front Montdidier. Next, fighting, began aggressively by the Allies in I landers. So all along the great western front, the attacks seo-sawed from point to point as they were deemed most useful. The confusion of tho enemy grew more nnd more pronounced. They were thrown back to strong defensive’lines, but even iWrc the powers of the Allied troops could not be denied, and the war happenings all through August and September became a monotonous a pleasing one—record of Allied success. It was growing more apparent day by day that the enemy were beaten. Germany had lost the initiative, never to regain it. October saw the enemy’s ease hopeless, and signs of the coming peaco soon manifested themselves. There was, above all, the Kaiser’s proclamation to the Gorman Army and Navv that be had offered the Allies liberal terms of peace! This from the Kaiser who a month earlier had promised the Krupp workmen Victory, and asked them to fight to the death for it. Throughout October the shadows of peace grew across Europe. Then peace came so to speak, in pieces. First Bulgaria. next Turkey, following Austria, and now Germany—the last of the ruthless belligerents. The peace that has been won lias been dearly fought for. It lias called forth the mightiest effort, of war the world has ever seen. It has caused a sacrifice, the full measure ef which can never be counted, or the value of which can never, be known. Peace lias come following a period ot heavy and desperate strain upon the Allies. It is a great relief to them and to all the world, for neutrals as well as belligerents have been in the cauldron ,of suffering. Now that peace is here I there will ho thankfulness and praise for the world’s emancipation. Let us , acknowledge it with all feverency and humility.