The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-05-05
80 DAYS WILL DECIDE
The FATE OF GERMANY
THAT is OPINION IN PARIS CIR
CLES-BLOW ON BRITISH
FRONT.
(By G.. F. Bertelli.)

GdTlS, May o. nat Lne lOTLHCOH-
ing 30 days are likely to be the most
momentous period of the war and
will definitely and finally determine
the fate of Germany is the consensus
of opinion in well informed Paris
circles. which have canvassed as to
the events of the immediate future.
Americans will not understand the
import of the happenings in Europe
during the past few days unless they
consider them as forming part of the
colossal stroke the kaiser has decid-
ed to make for an early and favor
able peace.
According to my information, the
following is the logical sequence of
European. events this year.
First-In consequence of the
breakdown of Germans near-eastern
campaign, caused by Premier BRAND
Saloniki coup and Russia's successful
invasion of Armenia, the kaiser de-
cided to attempt to smash the allies
western front this spring, being
further impelled to this drive by the
growing tendency of the allies to act
unitedly on all fronts, which tendency
was confirmed by the March confer
ence in Paris.
Second-The Verdun offensive was
the first stroke of the imperial staff S
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
experts say, will fall on the British
front.
Third-Yesterday' news included
the idea that the German frontier
had been closed since Monday; that
mails cannot pass and that even fore
igners cannot quit Germany until 20
days have elapsed. 1t should be re-
membered that similar measure
preceded the Verdun attack.
Fourth-In order to strike the
British army a deadly blow the i'm
peria lstaff has preceded it with
several dramatic demonstrations
against the British Islands, designed
to throw the London war Office into
disarray and to brighten the popu-
lation. The filibusting affair off Ira
lee Bay, the Dublin instruction and
combined naval and air demonstra-
tions against the east coast of Eng
land may be in Flanders as prelim-
inaries to a battle in Flanders quite
as furious as the Verdun battle.
Kaiser on Western Front.
Fifth-A British official bulletin
published records determined efforts
by the Germans to drive back re-
connoitering war planes.
Sixth-The Kaiser remains on the
western front with Gen. Won Falken-
hayn the chief of the general staff
during the crisis with the United
States. 1t is believed he will witness
the opening of the forthcoming bat.
tie, probably addressing his troops
as he did at the beginning of the
drive on Verdun.
Reports of the kaiser's impending
concessions to President Wilson on
the submarine question can only be
accepted as probably true in view OF
the fact 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 af'
ford to call off his submarine form
the British overseas commerce routes
The whole of this bold and elabo-
rate scheme was foreshadowed by the
German government when it stated
in the posters calling for subscrip-
lions to the fourth war loan:
Germany is gathering all her for
ces to strike a colossal blow. That II
may fall with German precision and
German force, dealing destruction
and humiliation like the thunder
bolt, such as the call to arms"
Paris is confident that the plan
will fail. The magnificent stand OF
the French army at Verdun and the
unending slaughter it is still infiict-
ing on the kaiser's legions have
broken its back. The struggle al
verdun is likely to continue some
what on its present lines, whilst the
500, 900 troops whom Col. Repington
has reported concentrated in Elan
ders go into titanic battle against