Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-07-29


tain allotted period of time, in which
the Germans estimated it would be i'm
possible for Russia to disturb them in
the east.
"The attack on france was checked
first on the Marine, later on the User
and at Ypres, although France and Bel
GUM suffered severely in the process.
Germany then, according to her
plan, took the defensive on the west
ern front and turned her offensive eff
fort eastward in an effort to knockout
Russia. Here again she failed, al
though her attack enormously weaken
ed Russias offensive power.
"In the autumn of 1915, Germany /
definitely abandoned her old pre-war
strategic scheme and started on a new
plan developed since the war began,
namely, an effort to upbuild Mitel
Europa as a great block composed of
four so-called Central Powers, which
would command the road to the east.
The autumn campaign of 1915 consist
ed in essence, of the furtherance Of
this scheme by conquering Serbia,
bringing in Bulgaria and hating our
Dardanelles effort by rushing NUM-
tons. supplies and soldiers to the as
sistance of the Turks.
by the winter of 1915 Germany had
gone a long way toward realization OF
her own ambition apd this point repre-
sents to my mind the grand climaterie
of Germany's offensive power. All this
time Great Britain had been building
up armies, and with the beginning Of
1915. we for the first time, had real
army in the field.
with the spring Of 1916, Germany
had come to realize that the conquest
of Russia was impossible, Russia was
too massive to kill or crush. So the
German staff again turned on France,
and the Verdun attack was the re-
suit
with the defeat of Germany at YER
dun came a turning of the tide OF
which further manifestation was seen
in a successful British offensive. Prev
ious British military efforts had been
comparatively speaking, minor opera
tions or operations undertaken in sup
rcrt of the French At the Somme we
started our new work and really great,
important work it was. although
great deal of the contemporary effect /
Of the Verdun defeat and the Somme |
victory was neutralized by Germany's |
push into Rumania. The Rumanian |
push. however, viewed in true histori-
cal perspective, was merely fash in
the pan The German military power !
already was on the decline and her Of
fensive strength was nothing like what
it had been the year before.
The end of 1916 found the situation
between the two great groups of con-
testants about equally balanced, but
with the scales leaning sli2htly in IA
vor of the Entente
"1he year 1917 has presented a sun
rcaier picture. During the whole OF
the,third year of the war, Germany and
her allies have attempted nothing ON
land They everywhere have been on
the defensive. The Turks lost Bagdad
and the Sinai peninsula. On Germany's
eastern frontier, although the Russian
revolution enormously weakened Rus
sia's military power Germany was in
capable of taking advantage of the sit
uation On the Austrian front, the
Italians got in powerful blows In the
west the British and French struck re-
peatedly and the Germans have been
to answer back.
This is the pitiful state to which we
have reduced the great power whose
whole military gospel was summed UP
In the phrase vigorous offensive Ger
nany's military helplessneww, owing to
the long strain on her man-power, ma {
kerial and resources, is such that today