Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-17

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
VIENNA. February 14.-Though the
spring offensive" is admitted in the
Austro- Hungarian press only in dis
| patches from the entente and neutral
countries. there is no doubt that much
is expected of the military operation
1t Identifies. Military authorities here
are not inclined to believe that the ag-
| gressive operations which either side
will undertake. possibly in May, will
| result Immediately in a debacle Of arms
| in any quarter. Talk of that nature is
! characterized as idle. At the same time
It is felt that the outcome of the Of
fensives timed for that period will
have far-reaching effect. and the GEN.
| trail powers are preparing with every
ounce of energy for the great battles
drawing near.
The vigor with which the campaign
in the Balkans has been pushed Is one
| indication that nothing is left undone
SO as to be ready when the moment
comes. The calling to the colors in Aus
tria Hungary of all men between the
ages of fifty and fifty-five for service
in the rear Is another one.
Stores Of Ammunition Large.
Meanwhile the manufacture OF arms
and munitions continues at pace
greater than ever before. Considering
that during the winter relatively lit
tie ammunition has been used. the
stores of this must be tremendous. 1t
| is known at any rate that the central
powers have enough ammunition to
meet any situation without fear of run
ming short. This applies also to Bull
garia and Turkey. In both these coun-
| tries new levies of recruits have been
made and are being armed and trained
Whether the central powers will
| wait for the entente offensives or
| themselves take the initiative is. OF
course, the greatest military secret OF
| Europe at present. The claims that
| the Germans and Austro- Hungarians
| will wait for the French, British. Rus
sian and Italian troops to make the
war are as devoid of foundation as as
| sertions to the contrary. Such views
have no justification other than the
| fact that the tactical principle of the
| German and Austro-Hungarian armies
has the offensive for its predominant,
| element.
May Drive Against Russia.
1t is possible another drive may b
| undertaken against RUSSIA ny liz
Austro- Hungarian and German force!
as soon as ground conditions permit
The march last summer came to a hal
because lines of communication hat
been stretched to the danger point
During the fall and winter months Thu
| condition was remedied, SO that from
| this angle, at least, the central powers
troops could advance into Russia an
| other considera BILE distance without eX
| posing their rear to danger.
| The Inner line of communication
| that the central powers have now per
fected makes it possible that their re
serves, to which, under certain con
| ditions may soon be added Bulgarian
and Turkish troops. can be concen
trated at any one point for the initia
| operations without the lines of de
Tense elsewhere having been weakene'
enough to insure success for an of
| fensive on the part of the opponent a
that point Nobody seems to hav'
realized this better than the Italian
commander in chief. Lieut.. Gen. Ca
dorna, whose steadfast refusals t
spare men for other fields are LOOKED
upon here as the best thing he ha
| done.
| II is probable that in this he has beer
Influenced by the rumors that the cen.