The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-28
Hopes to Land Body Blow
Which Will Prove Aid In
Securing Peace
INDICATIONS POINT
TO EARLY ACTION
Aerial and Submarine Activi-
ties But Preliminaries to Ire
mendous Effort on English
Front
BY @. r. BEIRTTIII.

Paris, April 27.-That the forth.
coming thirty days are likely to b
the most momentous period of the
whole war. and will definitely and
finally determine the fate OF Ger
many, Is the concensus of opinion In
Paris circles, which ]
have canvassed as to the events OF
the immediate future. Americans
will not understand the import of the
in Europe during the past
few days unless they consider them
as forming part OF the colossal stroke
the Kaiser has decided to make for
an early and favorable peace.
According to my information the
is the logical sequence OF
events this year:
The Situation Today.
lin consequence of the break IN
Germans near eastern campaikns
caused BY Premier Brands Salonfka
coup and Russia's successful campaign
in Armenia the Kaiser decided to
attempt to smash the allies western
front this spring. being further trn-
PEELED to this resolve by the growing
tendency OF the allies to act unitediy
on all fronts. which tendency was com
hrmed by the March conference In
Paris
2-The verdun offensive was the
first stroke of the imperial stairs
plan. The Crown Princes bloody
failure has gravely compromised the
whole plan. but the staff accepts the
sporting chance that remains and will
strike a second blow. This Paris ex-
perts say. will fall on the British
front
3-Yesterdays news included the
Item that the German frontier has
been closed since Monday: that malls
cannot pass and that even foreigners
cannot quit Germany until twenty
days have elapsed. It should he re-
membered that this measure preceded
the Verdun attack.
4-In order 10 strike the British
army deadly blow, the imperial staff
has preceded II with several dramatic
demonstrations against the British
Isles designed to throw the London
war office into disarray and to frighten
the population. The filibustering af-
fair, the Dublin insurrection, and the
com bined naval and air demonstra-
lions against the east coast OF England
may ne TeEdfucu as ~
a battle in Flanders quite as furious
as the Verdun battle.
5--A headqua. ters ONCE bulletin
records efforts by Germans to drive
back accommodating war planes.
6-The Kaiser remains In the west.
ern front with General Won Falken-
hayn, the chief of the general staff,
during the crisis with the United
States. It is believed he will witness
the opening OF the forthcoming battle.
probably addressing his troops as he
did at the beginning of the drive o.
Verdun.
Reports Of the Kaiser's impending
concessions to President Wilson on
the submarine question can only be
accepted is probably true, In view or
the fact that the Kaiser intends to
solace the German disappointment by
a terrific attack on the British lines.
Well-posted Frenchmen understand
that If the German Emperor could
smash the British army he could az
ford to call off his submarines from
the British overseas commerce routes.
Plans Colossal Blow.
The whole OF this bold and elab-
crate scheme was foreshadowed by tbs
German government when II stated In
the posters calling for recruits to this
fourth war column: Germany n
gathering all her forces to strike =
blow. That 1t may fall with
German precision and German force.
dealing destruction and humiliation.
like the thunderbolt-such In the call
to ALL"
Paris is confident that the plan Will
fail. The magnificent stand of the
French army at verdun and the un-
ending slaughter II Is still INJECTING
I'M the Kaiser's iegions have broken
its back. The struggle at verdun
is likely to continue somewhat on ifa
present lines, whilst the 800,000
troops whom Colonel Repington hAm
reported concentrated in Flanders ~
into titanic battle against the Brltiah.
DIR. Robinson Stricken.