Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-30
WORLD AWAITS NEXT BIG
MOVE; PLAN VIOLENT
OFFENSIvES?
CANNONS ROARING
WEST FLANDERS ASSAULT TAX
EN- By EXPERT AS FIRST STEP
IN ovERPoWERlNG ASSAULT
ON TEUTONlC LINES.

OF England's 8 declaration Of war against
Germany and there were strong indi
cations today that the British are tim.
ing great new offensive drive against
the Teutons on that date.
This Is borne out by the terrific can
nOnading that has been in progress
in West Flanders, all the way from
Armentierres to the North Sea for
over week
Aerial activity Is on the increase
and great armadas Of British and Ger
man battle planes crsan IN nattlc dali;
above the roaring guns.
British flyers are actively engaged IN
making Reconnaissance while the Ger.
mans try yainly to beat them back. On
Sunday alone 80 German aeroplanes
and two captive balloons were destroy
ed or forced down out of control while
Berlin reports that 3j British airmUn
were shot down.
According to the indications Field
Marshal Haig's new thrust may be
even greater than the S0mme offensive
in ponit of numbers and the length OF
ground covered by it,
A violent offensive in West Flanders
might have three objects in view:
!. TIE reive pressure against
the French on the Aisne, Cham
pagnc, and Meuse fronts
2. To prevent the Germans
from strengthening their armies
that are rolling back the Russians
on some parts of the Eastern
front.
3. TO crush in the northern
flank of the German army on the
western front and regain ground
recently won by the Teutons in
that sector.
Could Make Peace.
Rotterdam. July 3o.--The declara
tion of Matthias Erzbcrger. leader of
the German clerical party in the Reich
stag, that he could arrange Il basis for
peace negotiations within a few hours
If allowed to talk personally with Pre-
mier lyod-George has caused sch
sation, said advccs from Berlin TO-DAY.
The Pan-German newspapers espec-
tally are excited over this and other
statements from Dr. ErzOerger, who Is
now in Switzerland presumably upon
a peace mission.
The Cologne Volkzetung quoted the
clerical leader as saving in an inter.
view with Zurich journalist:
"The nomination of DR.. Mlchaels TO
the German chancellorship is not a
weakening of the peace motion in TIC
Reichstag, but strengthening of it in
every way.
"It would certainly be a crime not to
do all that is possible to prevent A
fourth winter camping. After all It's
still possible to prevent that. Indeed
there ID already foundation for com
ing to a compromise with England at
though that is where the shoe pinches
in arriving at lasting peace"
Washington, July 30-"Peace by un'
derstanding without conquest are as
suggested from VIENNA and Berlin
met no responsive reply in Administra
tion circles here today.
officials were deeply interested
They held that that declaration of the
German Imperial chancellor George
Michaelis and Austro.Hungary for
eign minister County Ottokar Czornir
Won Chudernitz that the war shoult
end now by negotiation must be in
terpreed in the light of existing contro
IN both nation as by the military caste
They are made at this time, official
profess to believe chiefly for the ei
feet that they can be expected to hav
on Russia, whore the advocates o
peace without indenmities or annexa
tions are in the majority.
In the absence of any official state
ment from President Wilson official
were harry about discussing tho re,
tonic suggestions for publication
was pointed out, however that in par
at least President Wilson had di'
posed of some of the suggestions mad
in his recent message to the Russia
people At that time he took the p'
sition that compelling Germany to r.
sore Belgium and devastated portion
of northern France would be "an NJ
of justice" and not an indemnity. n
inference he took the same position +
ward Serbia and Roumania, but as Ii
United States is not war with eith'
Austria or Bulgaria there was no sp
ciac mention Of these nations.