The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-29
HOPE THAT HUNS
LOSS WILL STIR
UP A REVOLUTION
No Doubt That Battle Casual
ties Are Tremendous.
Internal Difficulties if Big Drive
Is a Failure.
100000 AMERICANS ARE IN?
U. S. To Have a Share in
Smashing Common Foe.
Today and Tomorrow To Tell
Tale of the Outcome.
Internal Difficulties if Big Drive
Is Failure.
loo, 900 AMERICANS ARE IN?
U. S. To Have Share in
Smashing Common Foe.
BY CARL D. GROAT.

Washington, March 29.-Confident-
" and expectantly, America looked
out upon the west front death crap
pie.
Today and tomorrow, army officers
said, will tell the tale of good news
Cor d amocracies on the frontier OF
freedom or will mark for them
gloomy chapter.
All the news before the authorities
early today, however, cheered them.
The foresaw that British and French
Ieeions with some of the American
victory reserve, would stand off the
Germans, hammering at the gates
o. western civilization.
News from General PershinS indi-
Gated that the enemy has drained his
reserve to the utmost and has now
drawn upon the east front for fur
theI -reinforcements. He is stalking
his a on the west line, but the Brit
ish, French and American strategic
reserve apparently is now getting
rapidly into the struggle. The Ger
imam spike driven out at Mont Didier
is menaced. The gallant French
pounGing at the flank apparently are
, developing a strong counter-offensive,
which will menace the Germans con-
sideratly. Meantime. the British de-
Tense is solidifying. The German has
been slowed down and his vitality is
being sapped by death and injury.
100000 Americans In.
The extent to which American
troops have participated and will par
ticipate is still a matter of secrecy.
part and it is assumed by high Off
Gers that perhaps 100000 will have
a share in smashing the foe.
The German drive about Arras is
regarded as an effort to straighten
OFT his line, so that it would not be
tT11n hx- Dr-it iCI1 r. oil
there. But, tho yesterday the tide of
battle veered considerably on the
British section, the struggle there. as
q whole, was favorably viewed by
American military men.
! They now incline to the belief that
Hindenburg designed to crash down
upon the channel ports, but they be-
! lieve that this move-or a drive for
Paris-has been and will continue to
be thwarted.
/ Redouble U-Boat Efforts.
| While their line operations proceed,
| the Germans apparently are re-
doubling their submarine efforts. Last
weeks toll of shipping, twenty-nine
vessels, is the largest since the United
| States entered the war. Naval experts
| believe the Germans are putting every
| available U-boat into the oceans to aid
the land drive by baggiHg the hurry
| ing transport ships
On the psychological side of the
situation, diplomats saw a possibility
admittedly based mainly on hope
that the Teuton casualties will stir
up revolution in Germany. They
| pointed out that Germany is now say
| ing his losses were about normal
except a t more important points
! Normal" means mighty loss
when considered in the light OF
Hindenburg's prodigal onslaughts
| Much depends on the success of allied
counteroffensive If this jolts the Ger
man sufficiently, internal difficulties
are likely to follow, diplomats say
The Teuton disposition feeds on
success and despairs at reverse. they
declare, and government informant ton
| indicates that the people of Germany
will not stand for defeat on the west
line, in view of Hindenburg' promises
of success.
Austria Is Surprised.
Official Rome dispatches today re-
lated that Austria is surprised and dis
have not been forced to Withdraw
from Italy to aid on the western lines
The Italian military organization
thinks Austria fully expected to see q
drain on the allied forces in Italy and
to follow it by drive across the Pia We
This bit of miscalculation. the dis
patches suggest, has upset the Teutor
plans temporarily, but reserves are
still being massed, and a blow agains
Italy is still anticipated. Artillery i.
being brought in from Rumania an(
southern Russia.