The Washington times., 1915-11-17
THE MILITARY BLUFFsRS

Yesterdays news dispatches
brought the story of a journalistic
visitor to the French lines north of
Arras; a seemingly candid and re-
vealing presentation of conditions
there, from the French point of
view. It indicated that the allies
have in recent months made much
greater progress in that region than
commonly has been supposed, and
carried the strong suggestion that
they are supremely confident that
they can smash through the German
line whenever they are prepared
with ammunition and certain that
the human sacrifice is justified by
assured results.
Today comes from the German
side the story of an interview with
General Won Kluck. in which is care
fully woven the suggestion that the
German general staff may decide on
another grand smash at Paris. Each
side puts out its story with the
trimmings Of authenticity. the de-
tail that is intended to carry belief
in a prodigious confidence back Of
the frank statements. The two
statements are so much alike in this
regard that there is wonderment
whether their almost simultaneous
appearance is mere coincidence. The
suggestion is borne. that each side
is bluffing bit about its confidence
that the western line can be smash
ed, and that it will be at the right
time. Paris has long been cultivat-
ing the impression that it knows
just how to crash through and hurl
the invaders back to the Rhine; and
the world has been impressed. More
recently the Germans have seeming
ly been answering these French
claims, with intimations that in fact
Germany was merely waiting in the
west until certain important con-
quests were completed elsewhere; ;
then she would push through to
Paris and end the war.
To a considerable extent it is
probable that both sides are bluff
ing. But their bluffs serve at least
to remind the non-professional OBJ
server that the western line is the
place where an overwhelming vic
tory for either side might end the
war. Elsewhere, fronts have been
extended so far, lines have been
thinned SO much, energies have been
'dissipated and results have been SO
diluted, that it may well be doubted
whether there is any other field in
which the Vitals of either side are
exposed to a possible thrust. On the
west, for either side to win means
an unprecedented sacrifice and, fol
the side which stakes everything or
the attempt, a supreme risk. Yet
where else can either side win the
war? Germany will not win it by
going to Constantinople; but in al
probability she would win it by 60
ing to Paris. The allies cannot >wir
it by defeating the Constantinopl'
drive; but they could win if the,
could smash the Germans back u
the Rhine, even if they did not g
farther.
Meanwhile, with operations j,
other fields calling for all the mel
and material that can be spare'
from the western front, it become
necessary for each side to assume al
possible confidence as to the postur
there. The allies must announc
that they now dominate and are Ger
tain to win whenever they launc
their drive. If the enemy believe.
he will perhaps permit another di
, vision of French or British to b
carted off to the Near East. Tn
{ Germans must have it understoo
, that they are positive of their powe
in France and Belgium; if they i'm
=. press that view strongly enough
: they may spare some Of the me
1 from the trenches to strengthen tn
. invasion of Serbia.
. There is bluffing on both sides, q
y to the western line, and little
e known certainly by the outsio
$ world. But it must be said, eve
v though it necessitates revision {
some former convictions, that as IL
war is prolonged on present line
y it makes more apparent that II
S grand decision will be in France ar
r Belgium