The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-21
Give GERMANS NO
Time TO PERFECT
PLANS OF ACTION
VeutOns Can Only Attempt TO
Delay Allies Rush.
Caught in Clinch-Unable to
Strike Forward.
FORCE EVERY INCH OF BATTLE
Central Powers Straining Re-
sources on Each Front.
While Allies Have Heavy Force
in Reserve.
FORCE EVERY INCH OF BATTLE
Central Powers Straining Re-
sources on Each Front.

Paris. Aug. 21.-The first import
ance of the allies general offensive
not generally noticed by the public is
the fact that the Germans are unable
to maneuver and that the most they
can do is to endeavor to delay and halt
the allies gradual progress.
Like men caught in a clinch unable
to launch out their fists, the central
empires are not allowed a breathing
space to concentrate for mass ma
neuver which alone allows an 1nitia-
tive The allies staff authorities
point out that the present military at
titude of the central empires IS con-
trary to their theories based on Ma
Doleon's maxim, my own defensive
is a beaten enemy" and also contrary
20 their fetish authority, ClausewittL ~
who taught that The best means to
stave off attacks is to attack else
where" which they are manifestiy un-
able to do. The Germans are Nalnly
endeavoring a bluff and to disguise
their serious plight by regrouplng
their regimental units. brigades. divi-
sions and corps. General Joffres starr
possesses mathematical evidence that
the Germans are filling the gaps by
the familiar device of feeding the oos
with piece of his own tail
The German. Austrian, bulgarian ri;all
and Turkish troops are like one him
arranged in an endless cham. lnces-
sanity moving through the Isht. .aii
vortex opened by the allies VINO sun
have several more to open before TIE
maximum strain of pressure Is III
flicted upon the central powers
Loud Pedal at Verdun-
Al Verdun. where the Germans ct
+arnnted to put on the soft pedal, the
French have put on the tortlssliiio
pedal and have kept the inltatNe IN, IN
all attacks since the end or June lnG
whole question is how long the Uentral
ernDires are capable of bearing the
strain without swapping Their deVeI-
oDed railway communications CHOW
them to overspread their losses anu
average their forces on all fronts mus
delaying disaster. co,o
r:kf on the Italian and on the Russian
theaters the various headquarters dl-
,ert and Judge the operations lmme-
6iately before them, but Joffre's starr
views the whole situation as one pat
lie because the create st results are
rot achieved on the spot of the action
,.or are these results immediate.
ont of the 1872 divisions on the west
erp front the Germans have some
twenty on the Somme and an equal
number at Verdun. leaving but
eirhty-two divisions for the remainder
of the $50 miles of western frontage,
which averages one man per metre as
minimum defense. allowing nothing
for emergencies.
When officers at the allies staff
headquarters say the battle is pro-
crossing satisfactorily" this means
that the total figures are affected sat
isfactorily for the allies.
Tornado of Shells.
The fighting on the Somme contin-
ues with the unparalleled fierceness
of s'Verdun standard" according to
eve witnesses of fighting on both