The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-03-10


rd Bagdad.
II the British capture Bagdad. Ger
manys main offensive purpose in con
tinuing the war will be rendered use
less. v...a a..... -.
With Bagdad wrested from the
Turks, the Germans cannot hope tc
create great militaristic colony In
MesOpOtamia and thus become the
dominant power in the middle east.
1t is probable that the German re-
tirement in the west is for the prin
cipal purpose of releasing men and
munitions, badly NEEDED to reinforce
the Turks. Every mile Of trenches
whereby the western front facing the
British, is shortened means the Ger
mans can save 5000 men.
The positions to which the Ger.
mans have retreated in the vicinity OF
Bapaume do not require so intricate
a network of winding trenches to de-
fend as did the line givenup. AS a
result of this retreat, the Germans
can send perhaps 10000 men from
the west to Mesopotamia.
Shortening Line.
The shortening of the German line
in the west, coming simultaneously
with the British victory at Kut-el-Am'
ara, is the most complete evidence
the war, has produced Of the serious
decrease of man-poWer within Ger
many. There are, Of course, enough
actual men at home in the German
empire to provide an extra 10000
troops for 'Mesopotamia, but there are
not enough scivilians left in Germany
to withstand the extra killing. and
leaYe safe margin for German indus
tries when the Warfis over. 1ii n .
The general staff cannot, risk kill
ing off too great d proportion OF Ger
man males. For this reason 1T can
no longer conduct offensives in sew
eral places at once.
When part of the German line be-
gins to weaken dangerously, the CEN
trail reservoir of man-pOWer inside
Germany cannot be tapped. The men
must be taken from some other Sec
tion of the battle front.
Germany did not begin to deport
the Belgians until she had reached
the limit of her own available man.
power.
Germany's casualties are now over
twice the losses of Great Britain. To
increase this disproportion will be so
greatly to England's advantage, after
the war, that the German government
has shown it prefers to shorten it's
trench lines, as the less dangerous al
tentative.
This does not mean the German ar
my is on it's last legs and in imminent
danger of being compelled to accept
unconditional surrender
Favors British.
But, it does mean that Germanys
wounds are bleeding internally, and
that every strong offensive she hence
forth is compelled to oppose with one
hand means a lessening of the
strength in the other hand.
With the fighting now taking place
in the open, as is the case in Weso-
potamia. the physical stamina reuufr-
ed for stand-up warfare must inevi-
tably favor the British. 4.|s
The economic distress prevailing
among German civilians has not
reached the armies in the intensified
form that exists within Germany it.
self. T.. -+
Nevertheless, there is no doubt ar
my rations have been cut down or
changed disadvantageously. This is
not as weakening in trench defensive
fighting as in the case of soldiers en-
gagged in field maneuvers, where the
we'll fed soldier starts with a big ad-
vantage. .- 0.,. ,.....-.
Elsewhere than along the British
fronts there are no signs of serious
activity. Russia, Rumania, Italy and
France are resting, and are not show
ing sufficient recuperative powers to
warrant expectations that they will
engage in large spring offensives.
The British army is now beginning to
dominate the situation, and what
ever hopes exist of the wars ending
being forced by military decision
this summer must rest upon Tommy
Atkins.