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Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16218, 22 May 1918, Page 6

At this critical juncture of the war, whilo yet the enemy's vanguard gathers, it is heartening to read in a recent American paper such a passage as the following:—

"Trust the battle line of England, the Indomitable! Of ali the peoples of history none moro than the English have shown the strength that comes in tho fight with back to tho wall. The last ditch is where England fights best, and there she will fight best to-day if forced to it by the most tremendous military pressure the world has ever known. Thank God our boys are fighting at her side, even if it be but a few of°them! May they carry to her tho assurance of our faith and glory in her. May they sweep aside the ancient prejudices that have made us grudge England her fair meed of trust and honour."

For England, read Britain, and there is not a loyal heart in tho Empire that will not treasure that eloquent appreciation ; and regard it as not the least of the compensations of tho war that the two great Anglo-Saxon nations have drawn so closely in tho hour of trial.

It now appears that the recent brigading •of American troops with British in Franco was advocated by both the British and French Governments many months ago. It was suggested that it would strengthen the resistance which the British could offer to the impending German assault if American troops who had not yet received their full training could be rushed over and scattered at intervals through tho Allies' lines. The proposal, it seems, provoked active opposition from the American General Staff, partly because they resented the suggestion as one indicating inferiority of American soldiers, and possibly still more becauso they believed the scheme would not provifle commands for any American officer of higher rank than a colonel. (General Pershing wa3, of course, unaffected by the proposal, as his men aro all highly trained.) The British proposal, therefore, met with no success, until the Gorman offensive impressed the Amorican authorities with the necessity for getting to work, as guickly as possible, and backed by an urgent appeal from Mr Lloyd George, Earl Reading had little difficulty i£ persuading President Wilson to take tho desired stop. Tho promise was given that the new* American forces which had gone to Franco would be brigaded with the British regiments, no matter whoso feelings might lie trampled on in tho process. A somewhat vague cable message published the other day indicated, however, that tho process of brigading tho Americans with tho British had gono as far as was intended.

Tho decision of the Government of India to raise at once a new army of more than half a million is no doubt the result of tho great conference held at Delhi at tho beginning of this month. It was presided over by the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, and was attended by 120 delegates, representing all India, and including many of tho ruling Princes. Tho resolution of loyalty to which yesterday's cable referred, was moved by the Gaekwar of Bnroda and supported by the Begum of Bhopal, tho Maharajahs of Gwalior, Bikanir, and Patiala, and a number of other leading delegates. It conveyed India's loyal response to tho King's message, and expressed tho determination of tho country to do its duty in this great crisis to its utmos't capacity. The sub-committeo on man-power recommended that recruiting should be voluntary, as conscription was not necessary, that a number of commissions should be granted to natives of India, and that the Government should consider tho question of an increase in pay to Indian soldiors. —<. Since oppression, starvation, murder by military executions, enslavement, and torture will not break the spirit of the Belgian people, Germany has now tried another method. German is to be the only official language, and most of tho officials will therefore be Germans or the pro-German Flemings by whom Germany lias been trying to break up Belgium unity. It has set up for this purpose, the so-called "Council of Flanders," a body which, while pretending to voice tho aspirations of Flemish Belgium to come under the protection of Germany, does not contain one true and responsible representative of tho Flemish people. Another trick was to establish a so-called Flemish University at Ghent, in which not a "single Belgian would consent to occupy a chair. The spirit of the Belgians is shown iii the recent action of the Government in ordering Belgian Magistrates to arrest all those who had announced tho fall of the Government and the autonomy of Flanders. The attitude of Germany is indicated by the fact that when three Magistrates of Brussels did arrest two leaders of the separatist movement, tho German r.uthorities in Brussels at once arrested tho Magistrates and sent them to Germany. Thereupon all Belgian tribunals refused to carry on their business. The latest German move is no doubt a reply to this act of independence.