Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-14
GERMAN PAPERS HERALD
HUGE ATTACK IN West
Forces Mt Disposal of Cen
trail Powers"
EXPECTED TO FORCE PEACE
Bombastic Fanfares Regarded Either
as Gigantic Bluff to Brighten Al
lies or Shrcwd Vancouver Aims at
Masking Hun Retreat.

LONDON. December I3 - Linden
burE's expected dg;ve in tie west CON
tinucs TO surcharse the military aud
political atmosphere with tension. ho;h
mere AND in Paris. The blow struck
north of Cambrai succeeded only il;
dentinS the British line slightly to tho
east OF Bullecourt Three successive
mnssed attacks were launched. only tho
third carrying tho ASSISTANTS into OBJ
liberated British trenches. Each ass
SaIlt cost the Germans dear!" in life
and blood.
But this blow was only "fccler,' i;
is believed To-day the momentum Of
the German cannonading was swung
TO the French front. the whole Of which
was ah'"zc all day. Petain; seventy
hves' answered. shell for shell
Germany's press is triumphantly
heraldinE huge drive with almost
All the forces at the disposal Of the
central powers.
Confidence is expressed that i, will:
lorce Il Herman peace on France and
England
"EHMANf'S OWN MAN POWER
NOT SUFFICIENT !'OR CLASH
There arc two things about these
oombastic journalistic fanfare. chat
gave military exports here consider
able food for thought:
]. Inc statement that al available
.Ausir"-l hungarian forces arc to take
part IN the offensive. This is the FRS,
indiTect admission from German quar-
,erS ehat Garmany's own man power
io' suh1ce Tor supreme clash
with her western enemies.
> The very fact that tho reu,or Nigh
command Permits such predictions. +;
- AGAINST all the precepts and tradi.
IONS Oh German military irc:ics to
eethnN such discussion before an nf-
lehSiNc IS actually launched In TINS
Ease inc German stan dclibcra,.lv j..
:pileo ny the Official aunouncnmcr,
,hat the whole German western, fron,
has been reinforced This second MN.
gave rise 10 lively speculation ,sx.
net.s mere arrived at the conclusion
tnat This unusual procedure t. ana
OF three thinsc: vic
y gigantic bluff, a thrus, design.
Gu 90 brighten" the allied pcoplcs and
msnN'n me morale OF their armies. anJ
MAKE the entente nation. susrcn,ih,n
10 an impending peace drive.
~ Shrewd mSneu"or .i,n.l 49,.
masking German retreat I'm th, yo.,'
't,:'Ehtehing the present line. one bu.r
SSnen' pariiously exposed TO lnrc., srnla
"''sd ihruats. particularly If aidnJ h,.
later. 's UT
. Absolute 'cocksureness" ON IN.
part OF the Teuton military io,,.
that they can break through
THEORY OF RETREAT
IS MADE PLAUSIBLE
Subjected to careful analysis. only
one OF these theories would stand Tho
ses' OF FEASIBILITY as applied Oh the
OASIS oil past experiences. That liz tho
.heorE ABOUT possible retreat. Eu,
even mat would have to be followed
uE MAJOR success elsewhere. lcst IN,
Hs''i'"h pcop!e rise in bitter disap.
continent. And The only major SUCCESS
ii@rii-' ina% be counting upon is actual
coic!ua.on OF peace with Russia
AS 10 altcrna lives and .:
Neither the German politicians nor
TIE Nsiser's military chiefs ar.
suspected even by their most unsparine
critics OF the stupidity which must he
the basis for a belief that the allies
can be frightened" into making peace
ana as regards "cocksurenesS." Hin.
. denburs himself Is disciple OF the
school that teaches: Never be sure
about anything until 1t is a fact.
Moreover. there are lessons such as
Nerdua. Calais and. most recently. the
Venetian Plain, that would. it is be.
| neFed preclude any repetition Of set
ting campaign on paper before /,
has even begun.
Berlin claimed large gains today il,
tHc 'amDrai attacks. Several British
shelters and ninety prisoners arc re.
ported as captured east Of Bullccour,
Canadian accommodating troops
"storned" n German trench to-day In
IL they found seventy dummies.
! French aviators brought down nine
I German machines on the Eerdun front
A squadron of French flyers raided
Colmar and Rombach. dropping huge
/ quantities of explosives.
<So&n,