Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-06
Vast Allied Offensive
To Begin By April !

By c. f. BERTELL,

By C. F. BERTELLI,
(StaiT Correspondent of the lnierna-
tional News Seryiee9
Paris, Jan. is Thy maill.-Altho
they issued public statement after
their conference in Paris last March,
the war chiefs of the Entente powers
remained completely silent following
their Rome conference the other day
But have learned on indisputahle
authority that decisions of incalcul-
able illportance were arrived at.
n The principal subjects discussed
we're
The Saloniki expendition.
The relation between each ma
tons resources and its effective
X contribution to the war, bearing
particularly upon ta) electives;
tbl munitions. tc) finance
Preparation of offensiyes on all
fronts for the coming spring
While for obvious reasons | am not
permitted to give details of the de-
cisions arrived at, am able to state
that as regards the Macedonian front
the Entente powers have at last been
united by the French leaders and that
at the chosen moment the offensive
will be delivered from the Salonki
base with an energy and force hith-
erto conspicuously lacking
AT last Premier BRAND, backed by
General Sarraii, the commander OF
the Entente forces in Macedonia-who
is tremendously enthusiastic about
the possibilities to be expected from
his sphere OF the hostilitles--has
brought England and Italy into line.
The governments Of both these coun'
tries, acting on the advice OF their
military counsellors, have barely dis
guised their Indifference to the Salon,
Xxi campaign, but since the Rome con
ference that feeling has been replaced
by the united determination to wage
more vigorous war In Macedonia,
where, Of course, both countries will
increase their electives.
The after war problems which .the
Rome conference discussed were prin.
cipally economic and social None OF
the Entente statement have any IL.
lusions as to the question OF none
tary compensation for war expendi
ture and damage to be obtained from
Germany No one nation could pos
sibly bear the burden of $3.50, 100000,
900, which tue war will have cost II
actual expenditure for armies ant
navies between August, 1914, and th'
fall Of 1917, to say nothing of the bill
lions Of dollars worth Of property dc
stroyed.
The Entent leaders were therefor
faced with the necessity OF establish
ing plan that will not utterly crus
the present generation under an a.
palling oserburden of taxation, an
AT the same time that will PROVE
enough credit to enable each nation I
meet its obligations.
The principle has been adopted
postponing final settlement Of W.
debts to 100 years hence. In this wa
this generation, which has paid th
awful blood price Of the war, will NJ
In addition be reduced to utter apo
erty. Generations still unborn wi
receive heavy legacy Of war bill
as the price Of national liberty an
for the privilege OF living under Il
institutions Of their own countr
however small the country be.
European taxation will remain mo
crate for some years until the revi
al in trade Is complete; then will
gin to be applied gradually risil
scale Of taxation, until, some fit
years hence, the statesmen Of the d;
will be expected to begin the liquid
ton Of the war liabilities in real ear
ost Thus may default be avoided.
prosperous Europe, not the strick
and groaning Europe Of today. W
be looked to to honor all bills a
keep the financial credit Of the /
tentc nations unstained
In this respect it Is planned to ha
France, England, Italy aG1 Russ
york IN aamonly, Tho richer ncip.
he poorer from generation to gen
alton. This plan in itself forsh'
owG 4 postwar quadrupe alliance
more Intimate and binding matt
than has ever characterized other
lanccs IN the worlds history; al
II Tin parooge 10 10 be fully fulfilled,
duration 10 expected be at least
years
A prominent politicians who was
Rome III the time Of the conferen
tells me that Entente statesmen !
NSha rnat}p n hjt with mo-"