Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-26
promise and not one which the Ger
man government considers Beri00sly.

that Germany did not frame the ropes
peace message.
Germany Will He says moth
Confer With Allies. German tss "a D in.pi-
ration. It is reliably reported in neutral
capitals that the Pope's action was in
spIred by Matthias Erxberger. the German
centrist, who ushered in the recent Ger
man political crisis. and the Austrian
court. which is in close touch with the
Vatican, and which desires an early end
to the war owing to Austria's precarious
condition.
Chancellor Michaelis states that Ger
many's reply will not be delivered until
conference Is had with Germanys allies
1t will be difficult to arrange an under
standing with Austria Hungary and Bull
garia on terms proposed by the military
war lords OF Germany.
Chancellor Michaeis will run against
obstacles II he has any intention OF cham
pioning no annexations policy. In view OF
Bulgaria's land lust. The German chan
matter, as he has reason to do 80. In
light Of the many elements which are
ready to assail him and the faction which
he represents.
ate the belief in the reichstag that the
government is in sympathy with the
legislative body's aims. He Is comforting
with the main reichstag committee and
that his deliberations with reichstag
members mark the beginning OF true
parliamentary influence in the shaping Of
Germanys future destinies.
1t is more likely that the chancellor.
knowing the thin ice upon which the
kaiser and his cohorts are treading, Is
merely trying to appease those elements
which are inclined to give the government
the most trouble. those elments which
will continue to preach doctrines embar-
RAISING to the German government until
their miltaristic aims have been realized
to their fullest extent.
The mighty offensive power of en-
tente armies cooperating on the west
ern front is
Offensive Power more plainly
Of Entente Shown. orous a.sds
are being done on every hand. The
Germans. slowly. but surely. are being
pressed back wherever the entente
striking with a vengeance in the re-
gion of verdun. near the important
coal mining city Of Lens and in the
regions Of Flanders. lying to the north
ward.
Possibly greatest interest from sem
timental standpoint is being taken in
gion of Verdun. The Germans have
been battling tenaciously to hold the
positions which they won during their
drives to take this famous citadel. They
have failed completely, and today the
German armies rest in much the same
position they occupied before the crown
prince gave the order to advance and
press through to Paris. Germany has
poured out possibly 100000 lives at
Verdun, at various junctures, since the
war started. all to satisfy the vanity
Of the crown prince. who presumes to
be a military chieftain favored Of the
gods. He has sacrificed his men ruth
lessly and with no mercy, with the
been shattered, and today he Is seven
miles north Of Verdun, where, during
the height of his advance he was with
in less than two and one-half miles
from the heart Of the devastated city.
There has been no resistance strong
enough to prevent the French ad-
vances. On a front of eleven miles.
stretching from Hill 304 to the east
ern banks of the Meuse, the French
moved forward in a series Of sharp
French barrage fire Is declared to have
been terrible in. its effect. A French
soldier stated that even rabbit could
not have fed safely through it, SO
close were the shells falling. German
positions were vertiably blown from
the ground. Those troops who were or
dered to battle to the death before
yielding an inch to the French did
that very thing. whole regiments be-
ing decimated by French artillery fire
or In sharp bayonet fighting, which
followed with the advance Of French
infantry.
While the French have consolidated
their positions and each day are max
ing new gains
French Assailed of small char
Repeatedly by Foe. hsv. h.sn . .mh
| jected to the fiercest counter attacks