The Washington times., 1916-09-15
A THU1oN OFFENSIVE IN THE
BALKANS

Rome. which has ways Of getting
information from Germany and con-
corning the Balkans that is apt to be
worth while, reports that the recent
council Of the Teutonic leaders de-
termined on another cleanup cam
paign in the Balkans. Germany is
to send 100000 and Austria 100000
troops to take part; Roumania is to
be given the same treatment that
Serbia got, and the allied forces in
Macedonia are to be wiped out. CO.
operation with Bulgaria and Turkey,
with this new force and the German
and Austrian troops now In the near
eastern area, is expected to insure
satisfactory result Of the campaign.
That the western powers antici-
pate the serious possibility of such
an enterprise is indicated by some
things that come from them. Italy
is sending large forces to France;
the reports say that 100000 troops
will ultimately 60 there. This does
not necessarily mean that Italy will
be seriously weakened at home, for
the kingdom actually has more SOL
diers than she can effectively use in
the narrow field Of operations
around the head Of the Adriatic.
Portugal, it is further alleged, is to
contribute troops to the allies
western line.
That Italy should be sending
great force to France, while Italy's
prime interests are in the eastern
and middle Mediterranean, suggests
the allies confidence that Greece will
before long be in the war, and able
to contribute a force that could not
be utilized in any other area. So
the allies are evidently making their
dispositions with the purpose of
holding their enemy in the Levan-
tine area and at the same time
maintaining their overwhelming
superiority Of numbers in the west.
The Teuton general staff will not be
permitted, this time. to shunt a few
army divisions from one front to
another, secure in the feeling that
the fighting will be where they want
It.
If Germany is able to send 200 900
troops to the Balkans in addition to
what she already is maintaining in
that area, she will demonstrate the
possession of reserves that latterly
have not been credited to her. 1t Is
not at all apparent whence such a
force is to come. Troops from the
verdun sector have several times
been encountered by the allies on
the Somme front of late, indicating
that the offensive at Verdun has be-
come less absorbing to the German
staff. than the defensive at the
Somme; and for very obvious rea-
sons.
All in all it is quite likely that in
timations about great offensive in
the Balkans are emitted from Berlin
for political effect. That they come
through Rome adds to the proba-
bility of this political motive. II
Italian troops are already on the
fighting line in France, Germany
might very we'll calculate that the
way to keep Italy from sending more
would be to threaten a great ag-
gressive campaign that would
menace everything east of the Adri-
attic, so vital to Italy. Similarly,
Greece might be admonished to hest
tate yet longer before plunging into
the war.
The news, the fighting, the inter
nal developments, the dynastic COM
plications in the Balkans have all
been primarily political. They still
are political. Both sides are playing
for position, for preparedness, fol-
the great struggle that will after all
determine the greater results of the
war.
France is saved, already. Belgium
is certain to be restored. But the
fate of the Near East yet hangs ir
the balance, and the Teutonic forces
might yet come out Of the war with
credit and some large advantages il
they could establish their dominance
in the Balkans. 1t is there that they
must make their desperate effort t.
establish something like equality Of
terms with their adversaries. Their
greatest chance to sow dissensior
among their enemies is in the hinter
land of Constantinople; and the,
know it. The allies can agree easilS
enough about Belgium and France
in the peace settlement; they might
be led into frightful mistake, .
hopeless tangle of conflicting inter
ests and ambitions, in the Near East
Out of that complexity Germany anc
Austria may see their chance to es
cape with better terms than other
, wise would be possible. Bismarcl