Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-21
What Next in Germany?


The biggest problem before the guess
ers today is the surprising retreat OF
the German forces in France. me
rapidly of advance toward the border
nv English and French forces has
taken the average war dopester entire
ly off his feet He has carefully figured
out a German strengthening and short
ening of the line Of defense and more
or less dignified withdrawal OF the
Teu;on strength to new battle INES
more easily defended. But the devas-
tatinr fight. burning and destroying.
mile after mile, savors more OF dis
heartened men inspired by natreo W 90
all the damage possible to an enemy
that has been recognized as eventually
overwhelming and triumphant
If this withdrawal in force along the
entire front from Switzerland to the
strait is worth much to Germany by
shortening the fighting line 20 miles,
as estimated. what must it cost IN
morale These men who are retiring
have been taught for years that they
were ''inNinciJle": they had learned to
have only sneers for the military
strength OF other nations. Two years
ago their tremendous guns swept great
fortresses out of existence. OF these
guns they had ten TO one Of those
of the entente allies; their munitions
seemed inexhaustible. Today condi-
tons are changed. The entente has
preponderance of arms and munitions;
there seems no end to the rain of mis-
siles pouring in upon Germany's de-
Tending troops. The torture Of al
most unending bombardment is known
to these men who are turning back be-
fore a foe they had one time we'll nigh
defend the rear of their numbering ar
tillery, pausing only to apply the torch
and the bomb to all that they cannot
carry away Of the property Of the
people, they are harrassed by the on
rush of attacking infantry and caval-
~.
The British and French advance is as
disheartening to the Germans as is
their own retirement. No time is left
for them to consider new hope. They
are rushing away from fields that they
had sacrificed unnumbered thousands
in holding for months. When they en-
tered France they were filed with the
enthusiasm of a great and quick VIC
tory
What have the months of slow awak-
ening done for these men of the Ger
man battle front? One after another
they have seen the promises of their
irresistible" equipment tail. They can
see no feat Of arms within the POSSIBLE
tiles of human force that now prom
ises better than prolongation of the
miserles ana bereavements, the dis
comforts and sickening round of trench
life indefinitely.
Who shall say that these men or
Germany are not tired of war. thar
they do not long for their friends and
firesides; that they do not ferventlv
pray for peace?
Can Germany. by shortening her lines
OF defence and conserving her forces
hoid her people together, and those of
her allies, until another harvest re-
lleves the manifest suffering of all +b.
people mat is the question upper
most now in the minds of onlookers
Ana with that is considered the pres
ent retirement along the west front
me British movement in Asiatic Tur-
vey has undoubtedly shut off or largely
curtailed one cfief source of outside
supplies for the central allies. THE
Turks have no heart in the one-s;aod
contest now weging in that par. of the
world. They are hearing unwelcome
news from the outside world. Tbev
Know OF the break with America and
WIZ" Nhlha' they feel the new pos
sibilities in the Russian situation and
what will they make Of the abandon
ment of the dearly bought territory i,
France
IAN we doubt that with all the nre-
tense and buster. the promises and
'aise claims of the governments Of the
centrai allies. that the men of the
ranks are disheartened. sick, weary and
desperate What might we not expect
IN Germany at any houro
No. KITTY. II WAS not Sai.A AZ,