New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-16
Germany DiSheartened
By Failure at Verdun
People Depressed and Bewdered-Great Offensive Had
Been Planned to Encourage Tcutons Impress
Rumania and Greece and Demoralze French

been made and are being armed and
trained.
Whether the Central Powers will
wait for tho Entente ofensivcs or
themselves take the initiative ls, OF
course. the greatest military secret o.
Europe a. present. The claims that
the Germans and Austro-Hungs rians
will wait for the French. British, Rus
sian and Italian troops 20 make the
first move IN the various theatres Of
war arc as devoid Of foundation as
assertions 10 the contrary.
Il is possible another drive may he
undertaken against Russia by the Aus
Hungarian and German forces as
soon a ground conditions permit.
Able 10 Concentrate Reserves.
The elmer line or communication
that the Central Powers have now per
fectcd. makes 10 possible that their re-
serves. 20 which In certain conditions
may soon be added Bulgarian and
Turkish troops. can be concentrated a.
any one point for the initial opera
tiOus without the lines Of defence else
where having been weakened enough 20
insure success for an offensive on the
part Of the opponent AZ that point.
An offensive on the part Of the ltsl-
ians could not influence the military
situation % the Central Powers great
ly. II is felt here Il could bring relief
TO neither the Russians nor French and
British troops. since for the defence. Of
these Austro-Hungaria lines but few
troops are needed.
DO Not Fear Offensive at Salonica.
At the same time. authorities here
hold that offensive operations by the
Entente from the SalonIca base cannot
influence the situation IN Russia and
France. lu the first place. such opera
lions would be Local ard left largely 10
the BulCarians. Second, - is still con
sidered probable that the Entente
troops there viii never undertake any
thing serious. # indeed they are not
withdrawn befce long. Military opera
lions aginst the Turkish troops IN Mes
opOtamia and the Caucasus are given
no better place here. and another Of
fensive against Constantinople appears
out Of the question.
One Of the things counted upon here
as reasonably certain Is a new offensive
hy the French troops. Some hold the
view that this viii synchronize with
renewed activity by the Russians. Zach
side has the choice Of what sort OF OPP
orations it Will adopt. but the Entente
has the opportunity OF starting Of
fensIves on q colossal scale east and
west This means that 10 one Of these
theatres Of war the Central Powers
probably win be obi ged 30 play walt
.ug game.
Attack on French Probable.
Instead Of the Russian front getting
the attention OF the General staff OF
the Central Powers. the French front
NAV OCCUPY them. Several factors ar
que for such move. IN the last the
Central powers hold all the territory
needed as a peace pawn, While tne ven
departments Of France occupied by the
Germans have so far not produced the
des red effect upon the republics popu-
lation. other gains might do so, now
ever. 10 is argued here. Tn addition u
is thought des rable 10 change the gen
eral situation Of the western theatre
Of war before the new British armies
become a fact there, though Il IS felt
that this viii not occur before next
autumn. ..
In this connection. u is OF interest 70
note how German offensive against
the French is pictured here. Artillery,
more artillery. and again artllery
artillery m such superiority that noth-
ing can live under Is wltherinG breath.
That the Entente Will do its utmost
in Tho spring and summer 10 END me
war has become almost certain, espe-
cialIv in view Of the gradual realization
that the hopes OF reducing the Central
Powers through Lick Of materials need
ed for the continuation Of the war nave
proved fallacious.