The Detroit times., 1916-09-21
Sonrne Offensive Mere Overture
To Real "Blg Drive" ofAMes Due
In October; Denmark May Join

I power. The Allies were TO be In
/ creased by the inclusion OF Ru-
mania and by the addition Of
Greece. II is even possible that Den
mark may come in, for the Danish
portion of Schleswig- Holstein--no
the German part-has been offered
Denmark does not want the German
part. They would only bring her
| future trouble.
These smaller states are desired
as allies not because OF the men
and guns they can add. but in order
to include them in the great anti.
German federation after the war.
An Allied victory Is to be fol.
lowed by comprehensive clipping
Of the Teutonic wings. II these
smaller states train with the Allies
fight for them and are financed by
| them-it Will be comparatively
easy matter 10 include them In the
compac' by which German trade Is
10 be hampered after the war bv
customs regulations II Is doubtful
IF any responsible leader OF the Al
lies hopes that An indemnity really
worth while can be collected from
Germany. The same end will be at
tanned by giving trade advantages
10 the Allies and imposing handi.
caps on Germany.
"If Germany r. only half whipped
she Will not pay is the way one
thinker expressed himself the other
day err she Is thoroly whipped she
cannot pay"
~, onaa 81 Doryuoo1 ,-tVidi,s uIu,
trates the Allied plan Before the
war the German trade with Portugal
was increasing constantly, and the
trade OF the Allied countries was by
comparison decreasing. II will be
found after the war that Portugal
will be forced by sheer weight ~
circumstances 10 weight down Ger
man imports and Offer every facility
10 those coming from the Allied
countries Agreements have beer
entered into or are now being con.
sidered which will make this course
imperative.
No doubt the Germans were thoro-
" aware OF all these things. There
IL good reason 10 believe that the
drive AZ Verdun was not inspired
solely by the desire 10 take "the
strong place In the east even
adorned by its iron-bearing hills, nor
10 thwart the English preparations
for n great offensive. The German
plan was not merely TO attempt 20
extort a separate peace from France,
but 10 so Brighten the smaller states
then neutral that they would decline
20 go further into the Allied negotia-
tions The Austrian drives In Italy
and Russia were similarly motived,
The Germans failed everywhere.
The French held out al Verdun un-
~ the British were AZ 10 launch an
offensive big offensive, II not The
pig Offensive The combined Anglo
British blow on the Somme 80 weak
ened the German forces that they
have practically given up the assault
on Verdun They have been conclu-
sively defeated there. There is still
activity. but for the most part II is
French activity. Little by little, foot
by foot, they are winning back their
land The defeats of the Central
powers in Italy and Russia unques-
tionahly persuaded Rumania 20
come In. She has been promised
that Pennsylvania country she has
60 long desired Bulgaria came 10
her senses.
Bulgaria has made overtures for
peace" | have been told England
has been willing, but Russia refused.
Russia proposes 10 make peace with
Bulgaria in Sofia"
To return 10 the purely military
aspects Of the Big Drive. The weight
OF II is 10 be borne by the British
in the west, although they are TO be
supported by the French 10 the gem
erous limit Of their power More
British regiments are crossing the
channel constantly. More big guns
are being hauled up. more miles OF
railroad built, more shells banked in
the reyictualling stations. more tele.
phone lines strung. and more perfect
organization created. The little
drive has been OF inestimable value
to the British forces.
I've have learned the game" rs
one candid Officer said recently. I'VE