davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Germany May Be Starved.

Germany May Be Starved.
For the sake of utter clarity further
limit nay statement. 1t seems to me that
Germany may be starved into submis-
sion / do not assert that this is possi-
BILE or impossible. because l do not have
sufficient evidence within my reach to
answer this question. But il Germany
is compelled to submit to allied terms.
believe it will be because of the
blockade, with other economic disturb
ances In a sense this would represent
a military triumph. and in this sense
| think an allied military triumph is
by no means out of the question.
On the other hand. l am now convinc
ed that the Germans believe that they
can endure the strain of food and other
shortages until the time comes when
weariness and privation will force the
allies to make peace of negotiation
and not of conquest, and that in this
peace there will be assured to Germany
and Austria supremacy in the Balkans,
predominance at the Dardanelles and
hegemony in Asia Minor. To my mind.
the Germans are now stalking every
thing on being able to hold out until
the allies are willing to abandon Serbia
to her fate and thus leave open the
German road to the near east.
Real Problems of Future.
Ever since the Gallipoli expedition it
has been very clear to all military OBJ
servers that the Balkans and the
straits were the real problems Of the
future. 1t has been clear that II the
allies could cut the Belgrade-Consta
tinople railroad and isolate Turkey
from her central power allies they
would win the war outright. And the
extreme of allied faulty is found In
the fact that when the war opened this
isolation existed and Serbia in two
magnificent campaigns repulsed the
Austrian effort to crush her and thus
open the road to Turkey.
Thanks to the folly of Winston
Churchill. however. the allies did not
bend their energies to preserving this
Serb barrier until they could muster
the necessary resources to destroy the
Turkish defenses at the straits. but
wasted their first reserves of troops.
after the futile naval attack, upon the
Gallipoli peninsula. instead of sending
them to the Danube to hold the line
until the allies were ready.
Had the troops that Britain sent to
Gallipoli gone to Belgrade. Mackensen
would never have crossed the Danube.
Greece would unquestionably have en-
listed for the allies. Rumania would not
have died in vain when her moment 10
strike came. and in due course of time
an overw helming allied army. such as
is now contained in Saloniki. and with
out any real future use. could have
taken the Straits. And with the open
ing of the straits Russia's munitioning
problem and the food question of the
allies would have been solved. But.
what is Of importance now. there would
have been a final interruption of the
German pathway to the near east. to
I At. Nd a
war would have had far different out
,
Evening star., 1916-12-24

ing Rexonvauz and progressing in
Caurieres wood More than 1900 pris-
oners were taken in these operations
and 115 cannon destroyed.
The Germans were not content to re-
main idle. however. and the crown
prince directed strenuous attack
against those positions taken by the
enemy on a front between Nacherau-
Vile and BesonvauX. He succeeded
in penetrating. temporarily: trench
trenches in the immediate vicinity OF
Chambrettes farm, but generally was
repulsed.
Later in the week infantry activity
in this particular section died DOWN.
Artillery continued active.
Along the British front. in the west.
the fighting was largely limited to MIN
ing and trench warfare sucn as has
marked all of the winter campaigns
since. the conflict started. There were
patrol engagements in the vicinity 20 OF
Neuve Chapelle and Ypres. and few
trench raids at various other points.
but no important developments tran
spired in any one of these.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Serbia Key to Terms.

There is a good deal to be said on the
question of the permanence of German
control in the Balkans and in Asia ME
nor, even if the close of the war leaves
her in possession of the things she
means to hold But this is beside the
present question. What i am anxious
to make clear is my belief that the
present German peace proposals rest
upon very we'll fixed military reasons
and that the terms which will strike
the world as most moderate may have
other values. Watch the terms for tho
mention of Serbia: this is the key to
the whole thing. If Germany agrees
to the restoration of Serbia under its
own king. then her peace proposal Will
mean that she has abandoned her hope
of a central Europe and German hege-
mony in Asia Minor. If German peace
terms insist upon control of Serbia by
Austria. then the real line of purpose.
will not be mistaken
And the military operations viii cover
the political purpose. We shall have
German purpose to hold. an allied de-
termination to break through and
recognition on all sides that exhaustion
must end the war at no distant date.
either the equal and concomftant ex-
haustion of all or the exhaustion of
Germany drst
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Has Learned From Napoleon.

Germany is not undertaking to re-
peat Napoleon's mistake. On the con-
trary. her peace move will eventually.
If not Immediately. aim at separating
the allies who are fighting her by
making a peace that is tolerable and
even favorable to all save Russia. and
using the weariness of war and the
possible suspicion of Russia as lever
within France. Britain and Italy. If
the war becomes merely a question of
whether Russia or Germany shall rule
at Stamboul. will France and Italy
and Britain continue to sacrifice blood
and treasure? Germany believes not,
and she is aiming, ] believe, to bring
about such a condition.
On the military side the question is:
Can the allies crush Germany? Now
that the German lines are established
east and west. can Germany's foes
hope to carry the war into German
and Austrian territory by piercing
these lines? And the war must he car
ried far into Austrian and German ter
ritory IL the allies are TO impose their
will upon Germany-that is. If they
are to re-establish Serbia and put the
car in control of the straits The
German answer is that this cannot be
done within any time limit that it is
possible that the war can reach or
at any cost in life that II is conceiva-
BILE that her enemies can nav
Evening star., 1916-12-24

r. peace conference made by the Ger
man chancellor in the reichstag. Ihis
degree of peSSimism has been Largely
based on the knowledge that the alles
are determined foe and have much 10
ask. which cannot consistently be
granted until the iron Teutonic Will
is broken 1t partly is based on the
speech made by David Lloyd-Georse'
the new British premier. who. in ad-
dition to announcing Britain's hrm
stand at the side of her allies, who,
through official spokesman. resented
German tenders, set forth the prepa.
rations the new British government
was making for continuation of the
struggle during the coming and. IL
necessary, subsequent years
Just as England plans to marshai
her economic forces in a manner not
greatly dissimi!ar to the German home
army" scheme. just as she plans to pu.
as she is making every preparation to
enforce economy in the fullest degree
that the resources of the nation may be
huSbanded, just she plans to perfect
her financial arrangements to the high
est possible advantage, just as she has
placed the guidance of her military
and naval affairs in the hands of a CEN
tralized body which is sworn to press
the conflict with vigor. just as she, in
fact. is reaching out into every branch
of human endeavor that each may be
utilized in scoring advantage in the
present war. so are England's allies
making like preparations. 1t would
appear that the entente nations are
cutting their cloth from the same pat
tern. The same methods are being pur-
sued by the larger as well as smaller
nations where there is a semblance OF
government remaining.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Central Empires Realizing Decisive Victory Is Beyond
Them Seek to Hold Open Road to Near East---Prob-
ably Would Satisfy All the Entente Allies but
Russia---E1d Will Come Through Exhaustion.
By FRANK H. SIMONDS,
Author of "The Great War;"


Ideret the Germ lf militia o
4 10 n det moral laspto o h p 5
mnta bas sand ht this bi $
a the u hd the rcd lIme IL
nd
rmany in the ple no eh p
will end
is Meth be to %poen rw
fdccSe btes
Evening star., 1916-12-24
May Push Back Lines.

The Germans. quite as well as their
opponents. recognize that there is
every possibility that the allies will be
able next summer to push back the
German lines in France. They may
even expel the Germans from France
and Belgium. west of line from Ant
werp, through Namur to the Verdun
front. But this will not bring the al
lies into Germany. nor release all Bel
gium, nor threaten the central Euro
pean plan. AT the close of another
year of war. If the allies stand at the
Meuse and the Scheldt, granted that
there is no German disaster. Germany
will still occupy strong lines far within
enemy territory and her retreat viii
have shortened her lines.
If the Russians should make new
in the east and take Lemberg
and the country east of the Carpathians
and south of the San. at cost equal to
that of the last great offensive. Ger
many would still hold Lithuania as a
and could trade it
against restoration of eastern Galic!a
and the Bukowina to Austria.
The essence of the German idea now
seems to be that the element OF time Is
the allies. and in this they are in some
degree confirmed by the recent fall OF
British ministry. held responsible for
British delays, and the removal OF
Joffre. who has been the apostle of
Fabian tactics. 1t is now at last rec
ognzed by the allies that they have
not sll time and eternity to win the
war in and that questions of food and
funds are becoming pressing for them
also. So far. after two years. every
allied effort to break the German lines
on the western front has failed. as had
every German effort to break the west
front OF the allies. Today the Ger
mans believe that France and Italy will
break before their own lines fail.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Military Events Not
Recently Striking.

just closed. though the Germans have
continued to score considerable prog
ress in the Rumanian regions. 1t is
noticeable, however. that through stiff
fened Russian defensive efforts the
progress of Field Marshall Won Mack
ensen toward Moldavia has not been
as rapid as was his progress lead
ing up to and Immediately after the fall
of Bucharest.
Germans are declared to have short
ened their front in this particular arena
of war more than 800 kilometers and
are said to have Withdrawn forces for
Evening star., 1916-12-24
British Gaining
Toward Kut-el-Amara.

east have come in the Mesopotamia
regions. where the British forces under
command of Gen. Maude have made
notable progress toward kut-el- Amara.
Though dispatches are somewhat
vague in character. it is declared that
the fall of this city possibly is im-
minent
British fears that the Turks may be
successful in their expedition directed
against the Suez canal have IN meas
ure been dissipated by the announce
ment that British forces pushing for
ward to the east of the canal nave cap
tured Ell Arish from the Turks. this
important point having been held by
Ottoman troops for many mYnths. me
capture of FL A,ish would Indicate that
the British are pressing forward on
greater portion of this front and that
the Turkish grip on occupied sections
is fast weakening.
Italians and Austrians continue to en-
gage in desultory fighting in the
Trentino and Trieste arenas OF war. but
owing to bad weather conditions the
conflict seems to have settled down to
system of trench warfare and artil-
lery actions.
Evening star., 1916-12-24

sure that the minimum will contain a
REIMBURSEMENT of French and Belgian
soil and may include an agreement to
indemnify Belgium and to yield Metz
and the French speaking districts Of
Lorraine to France.
Probable Teutonic Concessions.
If by such terms France could be
persuaded to make a separate peace or
France and Great Britain to make
peace, Germany would be willing to
pay this price, sacrificing overseas
colonies as well. In the case of Italy ]
think it would not be difficult for that
country to get peace on the basis OF a
cession to her of the Trentine district.
essential to her independence and Sc
curity and inhabited by Italian-speak-
ing people. l do not think that Ger
many or Austria would consent to give
up Trieste, save in the face of fmme-
diate disaster. because Trieste is the
one considerable seaport of the central
European group upon the Adriatic and
essential to the central European idea.
In the matter of Russia I believe
Germany will insist as long as possible
upon the independence of the Russian
Polish state she has created. independ-
ence meaning Austro German control.
believe a similar demand will be made
for Lithuania. But, on the other hand,
IL seems TO me that IL Russia would
resign her claim to the straits and to
Constantinople. Germany might here
after il this were the sole obstacle to
peace. agree to status quo ante ar
rangement upon her eastern frontier.
But as to Serbia and Turkey. European
and Asiatic. Germany is certain to hol'
out until the end.
The sole condition of peace that Ger
many now cares about is that condition
which permits her to control central
Europe and to keep open the doorway
to Asia Minor. where she hopes to
build a colonial empire comparable to
those of France and Britain and hardly
inferior to that of Russia. And IL Ger
many can hold approximately the lines
she now occupies, If she can escape
| disaster and conquest, she will pre-
| serve this essential condition
| Napoleon fell because he could put
/ no limit to his ambition. He conquered
Europe, he extended the frontiers OF
| France until they included the Euro
| pean seacoast from the vistula to cat
taro: but there was no point at which
he would pause. He exhausted France
and aroused all Europe against him
Yet even then he fell only because of
his gigantic Russian blunder. which de-
stroyed his great army, that army
which he could not replace.
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Think French Will Weaken.

More than this, as Hindenburg state
ment to an American correspondent the
other day indicated. the Germans be-
lieye that the French will fight with
less determination hereafter when it is
made clear that Germany is prepared to
return all French territory when peace
ia made But. as Hindenburg said. II
the French care to continue fighting for
what they can have on application. Ger
many believes that she can hold this
at a price that will be prohibitive In
French blood.
Satisfied that she has reached the
maximum or the approximate maxi
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Beginning of Danube Delta.

sixty miles from the sea begins the
delta Of the Danube. The kilia. the
most northern OF the branches into
which the river divides. carries more
than two-thirds of the volume OF Its
ater to the sea. but is not deep
enough for the more important traffic,
" hich moves by the more direct branch
through the middle of the delta to
Sulina. Here natural channel OF
seven to eleven feet has been increased
to twenty, and long dikes stretch out to
sea and carry off the silt. Although
it discharges less than Z per cent OF
The Eanuhe's waters. the Sutina channel
carries shipping which multiplied ten
fold between 1861 and 1862. 1t was
steadily increasing with promise OF
future prosperity when the war inter
fereu. The Danube Steam Navigat!on
Company was reporting two million
tons a year previous to 1914.
"ior nearly one hundred miles from
Sulina up to Galatz and Braila. the
chief harbors for seagoin2 vessels, the
river is navigable for thoae Of 1000 tons
or less Seagoing vessels up to 500 tons
and fat barges under 1000 capacity
can 90 to Turnu SEVERN. Above that
point navigation is confined to steam :
ers. tugs and Larges drawing six feet
of water
Evening star., 1916-12-24

mum OF her military expansion. estis
mating her profits in terms OF her re.
sources. it would seem from the MILL
tary standpoint that German peace
terms would be based upon the as
sumption that exhaustion would over
take her foes before they We're able
either to exhaust her or to win mill
tary successes sufficient to destroy the
German plan and impose their wiz
upon Germany, TO the extent OF de-
stroying the German conception OF q
central European state, with western
Asiatic dependencies.
And on the military side it seems to
me that II is impossible longer to
escape the soundness OF German rea-
son.ug Granted that the French and
British will be able to clear France
next summer. save Tor the dlstrlctS
east of the Meuse between Verdun ana
Givet, together with the Woevre:
granted that the half of Belgium may
be freed in that time. concedinc that
Russia take Lemberg. this may modiIy
German terms, as has been suggested.
but will it modify them so far as TO
force the remuneration of the near
eastern plan? Will Germany resign her
new place in the sun on this accountS
1t may be doubted.
Germany's Food Supply.
Can Germany last another year? VIII
her food supply hold out? The ques-
ton Is at once unanswerable. and tho
answer to the whole problem. If Ger
many Is to lose the war absolutely noWs
I believe 1t will be because she VIII DO
starved into submission by her enemies
She believes she can outlast them ana
maintain her purpose. But she Is ready
to offer a reasonable peace-regard
being had merely to the war map OF tho
hour and the probability OF the war
map at this time next year-to avoid
the test.
If the response of her foes to her
peace proffer is such as to enable the
German government to say to the Ger
man people that tha war must continue
until Germany's safety IS assured: II
the allied response or the utterances
of the allied press give the German
leaders chance to say to the German
people that the allies are seeking TO
destroy Germany. then the net erect
of the peace proner VIII be TO sun
any demand at home for peace ana
rally the people behind the government.
And since the allies of France have
agreed to support her Claim to Alsace-
Lorraine. it seems likely that the op-
portunity to make such declaration
to their own people will come to the
German leaders.
AS | have said elsewhere. 1 do not
believe the German offer Of peace Is
sure sign OF weakness. that 1t Is the
first symptom of collapse. that IL reveals
German realization that they have lost
the war and must conform to allied
will. On the contrary. 1t seems to ms.
looked at from the military standpoint.
the prudent action of national
lon dership which has recognized the
limits of possible profit and has no
desire to incur great costs and grave
perils if they be avoided by the
retrocession in advance Of what IL is
recognized cannot now be held in any
case without endless war
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Russia's Position
Is Made Palmer.

~ -, duina ana the
bles that the war be pressed to a sue
cessful conclusion by the utilization Of
every conceivable tool that can be en-
ployed. The government still is under
fire of the legislative branches which
are demanding the complete overthrow
OF the beaucratic regime which. ad
mittedly. is responsible for the failure
of Russia to obtain the best results
from her preponderant armies and re-
sources. The governments decision IS
to whether the present cabinet shall be
displaced for one more in sympathy
with the demands of the people is
awaited with expectancy on the part
of sister nations, for on this decision
depends much. 1t is even reported
that England has dispatched ennis
saries to confer with the cZar in the
hope of influencing him to sanction the
changes proposed, that greater results
may be attained.
And. as Russia continues to vaunt her
determination to keep on and on. there
comes from Berlin a statement that the
Russian government soon will sue for
separate peace. Possibly 1t is inspired
by the belief that the pro-German in
terests which long have had a leading
part in tie affairs of Russia are sure to
bring about this first break in the ranks
of the allies. Though the curtain of
censorship has largely veiled important
political events in Russia in recent
days. these very influences may be the
ones which have been characterized az
dark" in the Russian duma, and. fur
ther there possibly may he a knowl-
edge on the part of the various organi-
zations arrayed against the govern
ment that the present cabinet leans to-
ward peace irregardless of the opinion
of the peoples as a whole, who. though
possibly desiring cessation of the
struggle. are not willing to quit until
slavic aspirations have been satisfied.
France also has been swiftly making
arrangements to push the struggle in
every branch. Italy also is being set
Alright for further endeav"-
Evening star., 1916-12-24
Bridge Costing s7,ooO,ooo.

"Slistria, the fortress of the Danube
since Roman times. though of less mill
tary Importance today than GaIatz. is
the next place Of striking interest be-
low Rutschuk. A Roman relic, Trajan's
wall, may be seen from the river below
Silistria. and forty miles from that
city there is a railroad bridge over two
and a half miles long and the only
one below Belgrade. connecting BUG :
Arrest and the Black sea port of
Contauza. This is one of the most
remarkable examples Of it's kind of en-
gineering and was built at "A cost of
100000. 1t has iNty-eight spans, one
of which. over the main stream. is a
cantilevcr more than 500 feet long. The
bridge has "A height of l20 feet above
low water, aud the piers go down to
bed rock 100 feet below the water
surface, making them nearly e-half
as high as the Washington Monument.
"Hrsova and ra-Jamolitza are the
next places of Importance, both forti-
fed. Hirsova. with its fortified castle.
is prettily situated on hilltop above
the surrounding flats.
The more important of the river s
ports follow; Rraila. unlovely and
nnotonous of aspect, is. however, the
chief Rumanian port of entry. Between
Eraiia and GslatH are the ruins Of an
ancient bridge said to have been built
by Darius the Great. The latter city
a bout ten miles below Braila is very
thriving port In peace times
Evening star., 1916-12-24

Although the Russians and Turks
continue to battle in Armenia, the most
striking
Evening star., 1916-12-24

The great French advance on a seven
mile front to the northeast Of Verdun
front was fol-
French Progress lowed up by
=: yyJ n I r II u S
fighting during
the early days of the week just closed
The French continued to advance, TAX
Evening star., 1916-12-24

From strictly military standpoint.
but little has been accomplished by
Evening star., 1916-12-24

Coming as an official answer of the
entente to the tenders of Chancellor
Evening star., 1916-12-24

Russia continues to make her posi-
tion palmer. by the continued demands
Evening star., 1916-12-24

lies or the Ger
manic h 0 s I s
duringthe week
Evening star., 1916-12-24

Upon the stand of the Slavs in this |
section VIII depend much. for unless |