Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-18
NO OCCASION FOR
GERMANS REJOICING
OVER WAR NEWS
Nothing to Justify Belief that
the Gar Has Been Beaten
DecisiveIy
MAV INVASION OF
GERMANY POSSIBLE
Situation at CraCOw Not As
suring, But Germans Have
Advanced at LOdz
(By ]. w. T. Mason former London
correspondent for United Press.)

CViRespOnuenU IOr Onlteu PTeSB.)
New York, Dec. lS.--Berlin S sudden
ly-developed enthusiasm over the mill.
tary situation in Poland comes today
as surprise.
The German war office announced be.
fore the battle Of Lodz was fought, that
they believed the danger of a Russian
invasion of the fatherland was past.
The LOdz engagement was q German
victory, to be sure but it was fought
l2 days ago. Nothing has occurred
since to warrant the conclusion that
one Of the greatest campaigns in the
world 5 history has ended in the lais-
err favor.
As a matter of fact, while the Ger.
mans apparently have advanced a doz.
en- miles or so east Of Lodz, their move
ment against Warsaw from the north
has been beaten back. East Prussia is
again threatened.
In short so long as present condi.
tions continue, despite the Berlin war
Offices statement Germany most Ger.
tainly is not safe against q Slay
invasion.
However, the situation about Cla-
cow is not so satisfactory as to allow
the Germans to assume as n foregone
conclusion the development of n Rus.
sian offensive in Silesia from that
direction. Cracow is Siesia's doorway
and only few days ago the German
war office was commenting on the
desperate fighting in its vicinity.
Trials Not over
The first theory to suggest itself, in
explanation Of Berlin 3 exuberanee, is
that the Germans are becoming over
confident concerning their eastern
campaign,
This is not very likely, however,
German military men are too scientific.
ally trained and Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg is too much of a genius as
a soldier to have furnished grounds
for the present eXtravagant demOnstra'
tion at the kaiser's capital.
The facts themselves fail to justify
n belief that the ear has been beaten
decisively
True, il is improbable that the Slavs
win ever succeed in getting far across
the German frontier, but il is by nc
means certain that they will not so do
And even the fact that the such O
thing is improbable hardly warrants
the deduction that the Germans trials
are over in the east.
Yet, so widespread and unexpected Is
the Tcutonic rejoicing that there must
be some reason for II,
Probably this reason is strictly mill
tary--a part Of Germany's all'inclusiy'
strategy
That is 10 say its basis seems to bc
a desire to impress the world with The
idea that the general tide Of the con
flict Is at last turning definitely IL
| the kaiser's favor and the presumption
! IL that this impression Is deemed i'm
portant just now TO offset the effect
Of the disaster Austrian arms have suf
fcred in servia.
The Austrians' defeat by the Sery
ians, coming with such dramatic sud
denncss, undoubtedly deeply impressed
not only the othor Balkan countries. bu
also Turkey,
Bcrlin's freely expressed onge
against Austria was plainly provoke,
| by the difficulties which Serviu 7
recovery have added to Germany
diplomatic maneuvering at CONSTANT
nople.
The Turks will now have more rea
son than ever to fear the formation o
a Balkan league against themselves, onl
will be corrcspoudingly unwilling Il
send mnny troops from their capita
10 fight the Russians AZ the SAM
time, Servia g easy victory constitute
a potent argument for inducing thl
other Balkan states TO Join the war OF
the allies side, in order to profit b!
the struggle at Austria's expense.
The German government unqueslion
ably hopes TO counierbalance these twI
tendencies by making both Turkey anl
the smaller Balkan cations bcliny
scryin s success Of small Importance
compared with some great conquest tn
Germans have made.