The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-20
Berlin Says Won Hindenburg Is
RecOiling for Big Smash.
Steady Retreat of TeutOns Con-
tinues Fast but Orderly.
MOVE RELEASES $50, 900 men
Believe Germany Intends Using
Them in Giant Thrust.
But Where Also Is Mystery to
French and British.

Berlin, March 2O.-The morning
newspapers today gave the German
publlc its first news of the big events
at the front in France. All military
experts explain the movement as part
of the strategical plan of the general
stair Tor a decision on the western
front and master stroke to vitiate
the preparations of the entente for an
offensive, giving a decided advantage
to the Germans. These writers are
unanimous in expressing the fullest
confidence in Field Marshal Won Hin
denburg.
The Deutsche Tages Zeitung says:
This is not the first strategic re-
treat Won HindenbCrg has executed in
this war. 1t is necessary only to re-
member his great retreat from before
Warsaw and the partial evacuation
of Pennsylvania. Thus far. these re-
treats of Won Hindenburg always have
borne fruit a hundred fold. So that
highest military command with well
founded confidence and the fullest as
surance that it furnishes the prelimi-
nary to new German successes
Full of Confidence at Berlin.
The Morgen Post says:
The German people can and must
have the fullest confidence in their
leaders, especially Won Hindenburg
and his able counsellor and assistant,
Won Ludendorff. Developments may
be awaited with calm confidence"
Retreat Not Yet Halted.
French troops. pushing hard on the
heels of the retreating Germans are
today within striking distance of the
'Hindenburg line the supposed goal
of their retiring foes The milestones
on this line are the historic towns of
Lille, Cambria, ST. Quentin, Laon and
Iafere. The troops of General Nivelle
were rushing towards ST. Quentin yes
terday at a rate almost unprecedented
in the present world war and had
reached a point within five miles of
the city. Unless some unheralded
factor has entered the situation the
French have b. this time either en-
tered st. Quentin or the German re-
treat has halted.
In the meantime, to the north, the
British are doggedly pushing forward
toward Cambria and are apparently
within striking distance of that town,
the heart of the Lille-La Fere line and
famous since the days of TIE Romans.
The British are advancing more slowly
than the French, but nothing in the
official reports from Paris or London,
or the unofficial stories of newspapers
correspondents at the front indicate
that either army has yet come in con-
tact with the main German forces.
Theories on German Move.
The theory that the Germans pro-
pose to halt their retreat on the Hin
denburg line has been put forward
by military critics in the allied
capitals but there has been no intima-
ton from Berlin of the plans of the
German general staff and the purpose
and meaning of the dramatic retreat
of the invaders of France remain
clothed in considerable mystery.
French military observers estimate
that the German retirement has al
ready released 10000 to 100000
troops who are available for a long
predicted counter offensive to be
launched the allied lines at some
speculative points. The Paris news
papers regard some such move on the
part of Won Hindenburg almost
certain and discuss the possibility of
another tremendous drive to smash
a way thru to Calais.
In the meantime the only indica-
ton of a German attempt to assume
the initiative is in the apparently
sporadic fighting in the Champagne
district and on the Verdun front.
Nothing has developed in either of
these directions to indicate an often
sive on a scale great enough to offset
the sensational evacuation of a thou
sand or more square miles in Picardy.