by Richard van Pelt, WWI Correspondent

“A Synopsis of the War Situation” as reported in the Oregon Statesman:

Except for attacks and counter attacks on widely separated sections of the battle lines, there is an almost complete suspension of hostilities everywhere so far as can be gate red from the official reports. Where there is fighting however, it is described as violent in character.

Near Soissons, the French assert they have taken and are holding, despite counter attacks, a German redoubt and two lines of trenches, and in the Argonne that they have reoccupied positions previously taken from them by vicious assaults of the Germans. In the Alsace the fighting continues, as has been the case for several days, with neither side having attained superiority.

In the east and the west, bad weather and mud are hampering the armies greatly, virtually holding the men prisoners in the trenches. The movement of heavy guns in the quagmires which have resulted fem the heave rains is next to impossible.

In what could be described as “buyer’s regret” the Capital Journal reported that Britain was not in the war for what they would get out of it:

ENGLISH NOT IN THE WAR FOR WHAT THEY WILL GET OUT OF IT
Were Forced Into conflict According to Common British Belief
EXPECT GERMANS TO BE BADLY DEFEATED IN END
England Planning to Acquire Much Territory When Peace Is Declared

No Englishman will admit that Great Britain engaged in the present European war for what there was to be made out of it. Nor, for that matter, did it do so. Whatever may be the actual merits of the case – and it is not for a neutral to judge them – the British unquestionably consider that the war was forced on them.

But it is also a fact that they do expect to profit by it.

Of all of the belligerents, Britain was the most reluctant. Too close to the sidelines, they probably envied the position of the United States, more secure and more separated from the fray by virtue of the Atlantic Ocean.

The values, the economy, and the empire that they took into the war in 1914 was fatally compromised by 1918. “But it is also a fact that they do expect to profit by it,” gaining perhaps in the short run, but creating a diplomatic and political chaos we have not sorted out to this day.