Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-07
BALKAN MOVEMENT
IS T0F0RCE ISSUE
German Oriental Adventure Re.
garded as Last Supreme Effort
to End Stagnation.
SURVIVAL OF FITTEST"
Leipzig Newspaper Says That
Strongest Will Have
Last Word.

doubts that the new German Oriental
adventure. which began when German
troops entered the Serbian capital al
most a month ago. in reality means the
last supreme effort of the central
powers TO force an issue and prevent
AN absolute stagnation on both fronts.
which must end in the defeat of Ger
many by process Of slow exhaustion.
To inspire new courage in the Ger
man people, who openly began TO de-
spair. a weak point in the armor of
the allies had to be found, and very
naturally the Serbian frontier sug-
gested itself. The previous attempts
in the east and the west having failed
elastic and the French front too firm.
and an instantaneous military success
being out OF the question. the imperial
government thought the moment had
come TO reveal the only real victory
which German diplomacy had won dur
ing the war. and Bulgaria was ordered
TO mobilize and take up the part which
had been assigned to her in July.
PLACE SMALL FAITH IN
PLAN TO ROB ENGLAND
The unexpected Russian ultimatum,
which forced Bulgaria to reveal her
hand a little sooner than arranged for;
the landing of the allied troops at
Saloniki, at moment when il was
E,la ri
powers had not a single soldier to
spare, and the discovery by Venizelos
that Germany, III spite of all official
assurances to Greece and the kaiser's
private promises to his brothcr-in-law,
had promised Bulgaria Greek Mace
donia and the port OF Saloniki some
what marred the hoped for effect Of
the new movement; but. after all, these
things were not mishaps. which were
overshadowed by the evident con-
sternation which the new offensive
caused in the camp OF the allied
enemies. who We're momentarily quite
paralyzed, and did not know whether
TO give up the offensive against Turkey
in tho Gallipoli Peninsula and rush the
entire force there via Saloniki against
the Bulgarians.
In reality. intelligent Germans do
not believe very much in the assurances
OF the government that at last the way
to certain victory has been found is TO
rob England of Egypt and India In
a recent issue. the Lcipziger Neuestc
Nachrichten says:
we have very strong feeling that
the dreadful disease from which all
Europe is suffering has reached its
critical stage, when each of the bellig-
crents will find life or death. France.
England. Russia and Italy understand
that the part Of diplomacy has been
played and that now the last word will
be said by the strongest. That was
the reason why the -AnElo-French be-
gan their great offensive. while the
stubborn resistance of the Russians
held up our troops on the eastern front
and before the spiked helmets had
shown themselves on the other side
the Danube.
DANGERS OF OFFENSIVE
REALIZED ny ALL
The resistance OF the Russians on
the gigantic battle field around Wilma,
the success OF lvanoff in Volhynia, the
landing OF the allied troops at Saloniki
might in reality have caused Bulgaria
to hesitate and Roumania to throw in
her lot with the entente. but, no mat
ter what happens now. it is neither
in Russia nor through the Balkans that
the decision will come. The supreme
decision must be reached between the
North Sea and the NoSges."
The dangers of the new offensive are
realized here by all who have the cour-
age of facing the undeniable facts
The troops at the disposal of Germany
and Austria, now limited in number
Will soon be decimatcd in the noun
tain Businesses OF Serbia, and fresh
reserves are not available as long as
1t is impossible to withdraw troops
from either the western and eastern
front.
The fear of decisive French Eng
iish success which month ago was
very pronounced, has diminished some
what, principally because it is not
thought likely that Joffre will sacrifice
the countless thousands of lives which
II Nill cost 20 break through the triple
row of formidable German defenscs
even after tremendous artillery bonn
bardmcnt, but the dangers OF winter
campaign in Russia remain, and be-
hind the Russian forces now in action
are the 100000 troops now being
trained by the Cars generals, which
will be ready next spring.
1t had been hoped that Russia would
find 1t impossible to provide the neccs-
sary arms and munitions for these
monster armies. but the progressing
reorganization of Russian industries
and the fact that every available man
in Japan Is working on arms for the
Russian allies has completely frus-
trated this hope.
LAST OPEN DOOR
ABOUT TO DE CLOSED
The price of all neccssaries OF life
continue to rise, and the full effects OF
the English blockade are beginning to
be felt principally because 1t is no
longer possible to draw on the sup
plies of the Scandinavian countries.
Ever since the beginning of the war
these countries have sent foodstuffs in
considerable quantities to Germany
across the Baltic.