The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-21
Retreating to Victory Is Ber-
Inns Cheerful Version.
Germans Backing Into Posi-
tons Long Prepared.
ALTERS ENTIRE WAR SCHEME
''Military Necessity" Excuse for
Devastating Country.
Heavily Barricaded Behind
Wire Entanglements Now.

Berlin, March 21.-Germany is re-
treating to a victory; another master
stroke has been achieved by Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg, and the en-
tentes plans for a great spring often
sive have been destroyed
This. in brief, is the official explain
alton given for the first time today of
eGrmany's retirement on the western
front.
Germany is retreating to a victory
because her armies are taking their
places in new positions, long pre-
pared
Those positions embody the newest
lessons of the war. They VIII force
the enemy to learn their trade all over
again They would astound tact-
clans if their full details were revealed
according to German officials.
They may effect a transformation
of the entire character of the war.
Country Made Wilderness.
In the meantime Germany has been
clearing the whole country in front
of these new positions. They are miles
back of the present line. The whole
country intervening between the old
German line and the new one has by
necessity of war and necessity of the
new German plans, been made a
wilderness. Roads have been des
| troved: the whole terrain has been
made difficult of passage. All means
of communication have been effaced.
Some villages have utterly disappear
! ed Some have been only partly
wrecked. Not only has a free zone of
| fire been obtained by such a proce-
] dure, but the enemy must come for
ward slowly over ground so hazard
Gus of passage.
In their new positions the German
| forces will face an enemy either hur
| riedly brought up over this difficult
wilderness and. because of this hurry,
| insufficiently supplied, or an enemy
which has come forward very slowly.
because of necessity of building up the
| country
Maze of Wire Entanglcments.
In either event the enemy would be
at disadvantage. Months of toll by
a million soldiers have been expended
in perfecting the new German line.
| The German forces will be entrenched
in the strongest possible defenses.
protected by forests of barbed wire
entanglements. A free fire zone in
! front will give them clear view of
the enemy Guns have been carefully
ranged over all this forefield. The
enemy must come up; must dig itself
| in; must arrange transport of millions
of tons of ammunition, of food and
| of supplies over the wilderness left
behind by the Germans in their re-
| treat The allies will face German
| forces prepared for every contingency
and protected as an army was never
| protected before by long preparations.
It has been impossible to carry out
| this program of a retreat leaving be-
hind a wilderness, without severe
hardship to the French civilian in
habitants. But the move is demanded.
officials also point out that the new
line selected by the German army
chiefs is not one picked haphazard:
! rxrIlA no fort of
battle have forced digging in, and a
subsequent strengthening. such as the
old line. The battle of the Marine,
which was unfavorable, forced Ger
wherever they could, irrespective of
natural advantages. They have had
to Withstand many months of pres
sure by entente troops since that time.
Therefore, the old line was not taken
up because of special strategic advan-
tages.
Spells Allies Spring Drive.
The new line is. 1t lies in the posi-
ton where engineers and strategical
experts have chosen every feature OF
advantages have been utilized and
developed.
All this change comes at the very
point where Germany's enemies had
planned a new spring offensive-and
an offensive backed this time with re-
ish had planned to take the initiative
from the old positions, which they had
perfected.
The German withdrawal scores for
Germany the initiative for the fight
ing, while putting their enemies at a
disadvantage because they will lack
prepared positions
AS officials here express 1.-THE en-
tente troops must now go forward over
deserted fields into uncertainty. fac
ing, unknowing. the sinister possible
ties of the latest master strike of Hin
denburg.
German experts think weeks and
months will pass before the entente
can strike at the real bulwarks of the
new German system. Even before
this strike, they will be compelled tC
make enormous sacrifices.
Front Shortened.
German soldiers have labored like
ants to change the face of the country
Not only will Germany have the ad-
vantage Of carefully prepared line il
her new move, but army officers point
ed out today thru shortening hel
front, Germany can save her offensive
power. That saving may be of deci
sive importance in future operation:
to follow very soon.
The shortened line will free a large
number of troops. Not only will Ger
many have these men-but the vic
torious German army which con
= quered Rumania is likewise free.
' DEWITT AGAEMCT TIIOL