July was a glorious month for the Allies, and August is even better.  It began with the recovery of Soissons; a week later it was the turn of the British, and Sir Douglas Haig struck hard on the Amiens front; since then the enemy have been steadily driven back by the unrelenting pressure of the Allies, Bapaume and Noyon have been recaptured, and with their faces set for home the Germans have learnt to recognise in a new and unpleasant sense the truth of the Kaiser’s saying, “The worst is behind us.”  The 8th of August was a bad day for Germany, for it showed that the counter-offensive was not to be confined to one section; that henceforth no respite would be allowed from hammer-blows.  The German High Command endeavours to tranquillise the German people by communiques, the gist of which may thus be rendered in verse: 

  In those very identical regions
    That sunder the Marne from the Aisne
  We advanced to the rear with our legions
    Long ago and have done it again;
  Fools murmur of errors committed,
    But every intelligent man
  Has accepted the view that we flitted
    According to plan.

The French rivers have found their voice again: 

      ’Twas the voice of the Marne
      That began it with “Garn! 
      Full speed, Fritz, astarn!”
      Then the Ourcq and the Crise
      Sang “Move on, if you please.” 
      The Ardre and the Vesle
      Took up the glad tale,
      And cried to the Aisne
      “Wash out the Hun stain.” 
  So all the way back from the Marne the French rivers
  Have given the Boches in turn the cold shivers.

[Illustration:  “ACCORDING TO PLAN”

LITTLE WILLIE:  “Well, Father wanted a war of movement, and now he’s got it!”]

[Illustration:  VON POT AND VON KETTLE

GERMAN GENERAL:  “Why the devil don’t you stop these Americans coming across?  That’s your job.”

GERMAN ADMIRAL:  “And why the devil don’t you stop ’em when they are across?  That’s yours.”]

[Illustration: 

CHILD (who has been made much of by father home on leave for the first time for two years):  “Mummy dear, I like that man you call your husband.”]

Hindenburg has confided to a newspaper correspondent that the German people need to develop the virtue of patience.  According to the Berliner Tageblatt he has declared that he was not in favour of the July offensive.  Ludendorff, on the other hand, may fairly point out that it isn’t his offensive any longer.  Anyhow, Hindenburg is fairly entitled to give Ludendorff the credit of it since Ludendorff’s friends have always said that he supplied the old Mud-Marshal with brains.  The amenities of the High Command are growing lively, since the Navy is also concerned, and the failure of the U-boats to check the influx of American troops needs a lot of explaining away.  The good news from the Front has been received at home with remarkable composure,