The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-11-16
TWO MORE YEARS OF WAR.
Allies Drive at Austria for Real de-
CiSiOn.

The Providence Journal publishes
a message, which was refused cable
transmission in London on OCTOBER
"a. but reached the Journal by mail,
through Montreal. 1t reads as fol-
lows:
A careful estimate Of the probable
duration of the war from sources
which include the best brains OF the
military organizations of France,
Great Britain and Russia, and which
also reflects the personal belief OF
General Joffre, in supreme command
on the western front in Europe. has
established the belief among the al
lied governments that there can be
no possible cessation of hostllltles
during the next two years. 1t is al
so the belief of the military authorl-
ties among the allies that the only
CONTINGENCY which will shorten this
period is the possible disintegration
of the Austrian empire.
While conditions on the western
front are more than satisfactory TO
the allies, they do not believe that
they can force the German lines back
over the conquered territory under
any circumstances. The remarkable
growth of aircraft observation among
the allied forces has put them IN pos
session of every fact concerning the
condition and strength of the Ger
man defenses now confronting them.
These defenses, of most massive
character, spread back from the pres
ent line over distance of fully eight
miles, encompassing a network OF
parallel trenches, of which there
must he fully sixty between the front
line of the Germans and the rear for
tifcations.
It is rapidly becoming understood
that the losses of the British in their
recent victories, which have put them
in possession of about five miles OF
the enemy's trenches, have been very
great. The conclusion has been
reached that it is not worth while to
sacrifice men in this fashion again,
and that there is really no necessity
to do so in order to bring about final
victory.
Plan to Drive in Wedges.
The plan of campaign as outlined
by General Joffre will be steadily ad-
hered to from this time forth. 1t is
to hold. the present lines along the
entire front, and by pounding opera
tions toward points like Thiepval
and Douaumont to drive triangular
wedges into the front lines wherever
possible. The purpose of these move
ments is not to secure any temporary
strategic advantage, but While mold
ing the German lines within their
present limitations to increase the
actual trench area which must be
defended by the Germans. In other
words, the entire plan is to substitute
the zigzag and irregular line wher-
ever it runs straight across.
YThe allied generals realize that ev-
ery additional mile Of ground to be
defended by the Germans under the
present circumstances imposes
much greater strain on the enemy
and compels the constant presence OF
great numbers of troops which the
Germans would otherwise utilize
along the Balkan frontier.
General Joffre within the last week
has expressed the belief that If the
Germans were to retreat now to
straight line, running 165 miles
from Antwerp down through Namur
and Montmedy to Etain, fifteen miles
northeast of Verdun, such a move
ment would be worth twenty-five dl-
visions of infantry to the Teuton
forces. 1t is known, however, that
the Germans will never voluntarily
begin a retreat of this magnitude,
because the mobile allied force ready
and waiting for such a movement,
particularly the cavalry divisions,
would overwhelm them and cut them
to pieces during the progress of such
a retreat over fat and unfortified
territory in the approaching difficult
season for transportation.
In addition, it is we'll known to the
allies that in the present state of pub
lie sentiment among the German peo-
pie the Teutonic governments would
not dare order such a wholesale re-
treat. 1t was General Won Falken-
hayn's insistence on retreat of this
kind, as a military necessity, that
cost him his command.
The immense quantities of ammu-