Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-18
Is II a Double Bluff?

Is II Double Blur!
Contrary to the usual program the
Kaiser is putting out his peace BLUM
and his greatest drive" bluff at the
same time. Having been successful in
holding Austria to the grindstone for
yet little while. and having scared the
Russian bolsheviki and Rumania into
an armistice now the war master pre-
tends that he has been fooling for three
years and that the allies are about to
be crushed-unless they accept the
Christmas peace terms which he is to
offer
That is the ticket-five hundred thou
sand seasoned troops from the eastern
front to be added to the Hinderburg
line and the final blow of the war de-
livered to Germany's enemies.
OF course Germany wasn't prepared
when the allies made war on her"
and that is why she failed TO go to
Paris on the first drive. And that is
why Germany failed at Verdun. That
is why in every engagement in two
years on the western front the Ger
man forces have been worsted, forced
back mile after mile from the French
fields they occupied in 1914.
But now Germany is ready" and
terrible punishment is to be inflicted
upon the armies Of England, France
and the United States.
That is the proclamation of the war
masters. but at the same time the
Kaiser sends out for world consump-
ton that he is about to offer" peace
terms and that if there is any fighting
in 1918 his enemies will be to blame
for it.
In London, Paris and Washington IL
is pretty well understood that the Ger
man demand for peace is becoming ir-
resistible. Commercial interests are
bringing all their powers to bear upon
the government. They foresee that
Germany is losing the friendship of
every nation on earth not held to her
by mutual selfishness and military
plotting and is likely to lose some or all
of these unless the war is won, or
brought to an advantageous close very
soon. This commercial factor is hold
ing the government to the terrible test
Of a last desperate drive and victory
or peace price" They see the
markets of the world against Germany
for many years to come. Something
must be done to check the war and
end the inhuman methods adopted by
the military powers in attempt to ter
roriZc the world.
Reprisals by English and French air.
craft upon munitions plants and war
supplies centers, in return for bombing
schools, hospitals, churches and resi-
dences in England and France, are
opening the eyes of the people of Ger
many. This policy, daily increasing
and widening in its exploits, is reach
ing the understanding of wars wooden
heads in Berlin and Potsdam.
Albert W. Fox, writing for the Wash
ington Post. says:
General staff officers Of the United
States army regard the peace efforts,
which are going hand in hand with the
advertised military drive, as distinct
" hopeful sign. In one sense it is re-
garded as the more hopeful sign in the
entire situation, although no one is
able to say why.
There are many and varied theories
advanced. One is that the German gov
eminent is concealing a source OF
weakness which will become vital in
the near future.
1T may be that Germany is coming
to the end Of her rope on matters of
essential war supplies.
"Others here believe that the eco
nomic situation in Germany is far
worse than understood outside the
fatherland anG that the German wao
lords feel that there is time limit on
the duration of future military acitivi-
ties.
"Whatever the reason, there is a
feeling in military circles that Germany
is not pressing so persistently for pre-
mature peace without a very good rea-
son.
There are signs of unusual secrecy
in guarding news from Germany and in
keeping persons from leaving the
country This is independent of the
closed frontiers which are guarding
military movements.
1T might be assumed that the ad-
vance advertising which Germany is
giving to the drive on the western front
is sort Of camoufiage and that no
particular Teuton effort is really to be
expected.
But this rs generally regarded as
unlikely, because the announcements in
the German press naturally arouse the