The Detroit times., 1916-09-21
Somme Offensive Mere Overture
10 Real "Blg Driue" ofAMes Due
In October; Denmark May Join

/ power. The Allies were 10 be in
/ creased by the Inclusion OF Ru.
mania and by the addition OF
| Greece, II is even possible that Den.
mark may come In, for the Danish
portion OF Schleswig IIolstein-not
the German part-has been offered.
Denmark does not want the German
part They would only bring her
future trouble.
These smaller states are desired
as allies not because ~ the men
and guns they can add, but In order
TO include them In the great anti
German federation after the war.
An Allied victory Is 10 be fol
lowed by "A comprehensive clipping
~ the Teutonic wings II these
smaller states train with the Allies
fight for them and are financed by
them-it VIII be comparatively
easy matter 10 include them IN the
compac, by which German trade is
10 he hampcred after the war by
customs regulations II is doubtful
~ any responsible leader of the Al
lies hopes that an indemnity really
worth while can he collected from
Germany Tho same end viii be at
tanned by giving trade advantage
10 the Allies and imposing handi-
caps on Germany.
ar Germany IS only half whipped
she will not pay" r. the way one
thinker expressed himself the othor
day "If he Is thoroly whipped she
cannot pay
The case ~ Portugal viyidly Mus
tratna the Allied plan Before the
war the German trade with Portugal
was increasing constantly and the
trade OF the Allied countries was by
comparison decreasing II viii be
found after tho war that Portugal
viii be forced BY sheer weight OF
circumstances 20 weight down Ger
man imports and offor every facility
20 those coming from ne Allied
cOmtrihh Agreements have becn
entered into or are now being con.
sldered which viii make this course
imperative
No doubt The Germans were thoro-
ly aware of all these things There
g. good reason 10 believe that the
drive az ycrluu WAS not inspired
solely hy the desire 10 take the
strong place in the east even
adorned by its n-bearing hills. nor
10 'hWart Tho English preparations
for a great offensive The German
plan wns not merely 10 attempt o.
oXtort a separate peace from France.
but 10 so Brighten the smaller states
then neutral that they would decline
70 10 further into the Allied negotia
lions The Austrian drives I'm Italy
and Russia We're similarly motived
The Germans failed everywhere.
The French held out at Verdun un
ri the British wcrc az 20 launch an
offensive big offensive. II not The
Big Offensive r ~ combined Anglo
British blow on the Somme 80 weak
cned the German forces that they
have practically given up the assault
on Verdun They have been conclu.
s'volv defeated there There "a still
activity. but for the most part II is
French activity. title ~ little foot
bv foot. they are winning back their
land The defeats ~ the Central
powers In Italy and Russia unques-
tlonably persuaded Rumania 20
como In She has been promised
that Pennsylvania country she has
go long desired Bulgaria came 10
her senses
bulgaria has made overtures for
peacc.' | have been told. England
has been willing. but Russia refused
Russia proposes 10 make peace with
Bulgaria In Sofia p"
To return 10 the purely military
aspects % tho Rig Drive. Tho weight
NJ II Is 20 DO borne by the British
In the west. although they are to b.
supported by tho French 20 the gen
crous limit Of their power More
British regiments arc crossing The
channel constantly More big guns
are being hauled up. more miles or
railroad built. more shells banked in
the revictuallinr stations, more tele-
phone lines strung. and more perfect
organization created The little
drive has been OF inestimable value
20 the British forces
we have learned the game" as
ono candid officer said recently. I'VE