Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-11
GUNS OF VERDUN HERALD COMING
OF SPECTACULAR SPRING DRIVE
Proceedings of Great Council at Paris Already Reflected
in Renewed Activities on Both Sides-Neutra World
Shaken With Resentment Against Belligerents
Bv w. A. Laredo

The war conference Of the Allies. which
late last month brought TO Paris premiers,
war ministers. commanding generals and
other statemcn and ChieftainS of the En-.
tente. reached conclusions which have
been reflected In movements both OF the
Quadruple Alliance and, by anticipation,
OF the Central Powers These movements
have been mainly military; some Of them
were doubtless prepared and simply came
up for approval at the Paris conference;
others were by way of continuation of eN-
isting strategic plans Just what hap
rened at the Council has not transpired.
but Il is definitely known that policies
were formulated and these are thought. In
informed circles to he concerned with the
proposed spring drive, postponed from
last year.
Dispatches from the various war offices
Indicate more activity than has been APP
parent for some time. Aside from the
two score and ten days of the struggle
for Verdun action has been lacking of
late in the several war theatres till
within a few days Motion, however, is
now obvious in more than one zone.
SO deeply has the impression gained
weight that campaigns Of great moment
are forward that Holland has become
the scene of a war scare The Queen has
/ Cancelled all leaves of absences of men
and officers in the standing army ana
of railroad and other Government em-
| ployes and mobilization has been admitted
at The Hague The unrest in Holland has
been one definite result Of the Great
Council of Paris 1t has been provoked
by Il double fear OF menace by Germany
and by England.
HOLLANDS TwO-FOLD MENACE.
The keenest analysis Of the situation
by Dutch authorities ends in the assump-
tion that the Paris Council developed
great plan to rush" Germany. England,
1t Is believed. Coutemplates a flank at
tack on Germany through the Neither
lands. Expectation of such an assault
has led Germany. according to those COM
mentators, to assemble formidable forces
upon the Dutch frontier to forcstall inva-
sion.
Holland has two other grievances, one
against each side, in addition to the fear
that its neutrality may be violated by lie
or the other in an English drive or
Teuton Counter.drivc. Against Germany
is "A resentment which has ilamed out into
hostile expressions of press and people.
/ on account of the Trptz submarine pol
icy Many Dutch ships have been sunk
and many lives lost as the result of U.boat
attacks. Against England Holland is re.
sentful on account Of the ruin to trade
wrought by its blockade policy of "starv-
ing Germany out" Dutch mails have been
seized and heavy Cargoes. particularly to
the United states. have been held up
Holland declares stanchly that it will
defend it's neutrality and will not supinely
allow passage to either belligerent across
| the Low Countries The Dutch believe
that their 800 900 trained soldiers will be
able to arrest any attempt to force their
territory. As last resort is the unusual
but effective device of flooding the country
from the dikcs.
NEUTRALS RESENT TIRPGTIISM
All the neutral nations are aEgricvcd at
the ravaEeS Of the U-boat warfare. Sink
ing of Danish ships is characterized by
Copenhagen newspapers as 'wanton.' and
the death OF Dane seamen is bluntly called
murder" by influential journals and in
public meetings. Denmark is IN very
sensitive mood.
Norway also has been aroused by the
sinking of several ships since the new
submarine policy began on March !.
Spain too, is in protesting mood AMI
has asked Berlin for cessation of attacks
ana redress for damage done.
only Sweden of the importan, neutral,
! is unhostile to Germany on the score of
| the TrptZ issue. which, despite the re-
| tirement of the Grand Admiral, has not
lost i'm "friEhtfulness,"
-The disasters and ravaGes Of the U-boat
war affecting the United States, and still
unadjusted by the Eaisers Government,
have been repeated. though ON Il smaller
scale, in other countries, and the state OF
mind in all of them among large pro-
portion of the people IS iretul. ana some
times bcllicose. Developments of recent
days in the Danish and Dutch national
feelings of uneasiness ana their concerted
demands for aggressive action are appar-
emily leading to what may turn to a sOrmal
international discussion OF the entire sub
jeCt of marine warfare.
Perhaps the most significant outward
sign of the renewal of activity on the
part of the Allies and the prospect of
general advance all along the line is
the announcement that Italy is making
ready for supreme blow. Preparations
are under way for grand effort i'm CO.
operation with other members of the En-
tente. Hitherto, Italian effort has been iso-
lated on the lsonzo and Aplue fronts, and
the progress has been according to alti-
tude not area. Virtually the entire Italian