New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-02
TeutOns Will Answer
Flat Refusal" to
End War -"
GERMANS MASS
GUNS FOR SPRING
Turn Out Thousands OF
Weapons of All Sizes
Each Week t

Berlin, Jan. (by wireless TO Say
ville) THE text Of the Entente
note replying to the peace offer Of
the Central Powers" says the semi
official Overseas News Agency.
reached Berlin as transmitted from
Paris by the Havas News Agency.
The general impression here is-if
this version is correct-that the En-
tente answer to the sincere German
offer, while verbose, nevertheless il
fiat refusal to end the war This
is especially regretted for the sake
of the neutral countries suffering
from the consequences of the war
1T is pointed out as especially re-
markable that the Entente note mem
tions the right of nationalities, al
though one of the avowed war pur-
poses Of the Entente is the conquest
Of Constantinople and the Straits"
The Entente statement, il is inti-
mated, probably will evoke an an
swer in some form, Germany review
ing from its standpoint the results
Of the peace overtures and analyzing
the question Of responsibility for a
continuance OF the war.
The press version of the Entente
note was received here yesterday.
officials intimate that the reply is
just about what had been expected,
taking into consideration the pre-
liminAry announcements from va
rious statesmen in the Entente coun-
tries. and that Germany, while dis
appointed that her nope Of the end
Of the blood-letting and destruction
has vanished, is prepared to carry
on the war with increased vigor and
with a united people back Of her.
Owing TO the holiday and the sus-
pension Of the newspapers the note
will not be published here until to
morrow. It's tenor is not known TO
the general public.
Kaiser Msssing Guns
Many thousands OF guns each week
is reported 20 be the measure Of the
manufacturing effort which Germany
is now making for the campaign o.
1917. an effort upon which the entire
manhood force Of the nstion which can
be spared from the front ard regular
OCCUPATIONS is being concentrated un-
der First Qusrtermsster General Won
LudendorFs universal labor service
law.
Counting four month, before the
probable renewal % the war In full
vigor on all fronts. these figures mean
a new immense supply Of cannon OF an
cslibres, from field guns mp TO the
gigantic howitzers. 70 meet the admit
tedly gigantic effort which the Entente
Allies are expected 70 make.
Munitions Keep Psce
Along with these guns the German
factories are turning out correspond
ingly stupendous quantities Of ammu-
milton, and the production OF machine
guns. each Of which virtually replaces
a platoon Of men. has been placed on
scale far beyond that of the last year
The campaign Of 1917 will IL is al
ready evident. be fought as a wide cx-
tension and development Of the Somme
battle, with even a heavier concentra-
ton Of artillery over a FAR wider front
Confidence that their opponents will
be unable 20 break through is not only
expressed by the higher commanders,
but also is manifested right down into
the ranks Of the people
Thousands OF skilled men have been
brought and are being brought back
from the front and placed in the Krupp
and other muntion factories. These
men are replaced in the ranks by leyies
set free by the universal labor service
bill and by widespread coming out OF
able-bodied men from hitherto exempt
occupations
Another expected development OF
1917 is change IN the centre o. gray
ity on the Western front
Nerdun the hey
The Somme battle has swept Is Esy
into comparative quietude, and adyices
OF recent weeks point 70 2 transfer OF
the Entente Allies main efforts 70 an
other region. most likely that o. Yer
dun. where the French energies recent
ly have been concentrated on extending
10 It's original size the sallyport west
Of the Meuse-the most obvious point.
as that nearest 70 the heart OF Ger
many, for the effort 10 roll back the
tide OF invasion, or, in case OF minor
success, a point whence operations into
the rich iron fields would be possible.
The military experts here point out
that the employment Of British troops
in large numbers at this point of The
battle line would be hampered by great
transportation difficulties. and assert
that the French reserves are mad
equate for any great unsupported et-
fort They express tho fullest conf
dence that with the balance Of artillery
strength fully restored, as they eXpsct
Il 70 be by spring, Germany will bs
able 70 prevent sny serious advsncs a.
this salient