Evening star., 1918-04-04

day by officials here in the little atten-
tion paid to Czernin's new peace Of
fensive," compared with interest IN
former "feelers' of this sort.
Litter Defines Position.
IT is not known whether President Will
son will refer to the Austrian foreign min
ister's recent speech when he makes an ad-
dress in Baltimore Saturday. But II was
stated that the Presidents position still Is
summed up in what he said in brief and
forceful letter to Bishop Henderson of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. This letter
concluded with this sentence:
1T is always our duty to find out what
the expression Of desire for peace from
our opponents really means, but unless 1t
means a complete and convincing program
of Justice upon which a lasting peace can
really rest land we have as yet no evidence
that it means anything OF that kind). II
means nothing"
The best answer to the Czernin ''feeler'
tinuance 81 efforts to speed up the Amer
ican participation in the war.
Admission of Defeat
] IN connsetion WITH later reports Of
heavy German losses as compared with
those Of the allies. although there is not
yet an official record of these losses. the
Cxefsins e>aAehsYAs construed by some
as an adi1ti ssf6n of German defeat in the
accomplishment OF the full aims of her
onslaught. Having once again sought
victory by military means, and. having
failed. according to this theory. the Ger
mans again. have put. out through their
Austrian spokesman propaganda ef-
fort to spread dissension among the al
lies and to placate the people OF the
central powers. who must feel disai.
pointment at the failure to obtain all
that was promised by the drive that
cost so heavily in human life.
In connection with the utmost ef-
forts being made to hasten the trans
portation of troops abroad and to
speed up the training of new men who
are to be drafted. Army officers today
cautioned against placing too great
credence in the speculations about call
ing a million more men than was first
intended. It was stated that the draft
legislation places certain limitations
upon the number of men to be called |
this year. and that both presidential |
sanction and perhaps additional legis- |
1ation might be needed to expand the |
program to the point that some re- |
ports have Indicated. !
Obstacle in Larger Army.
Not only is there this legal obstacle
in the way of expanding the draft calls
indefinitely, but neither ships, canton
ments nor equipment could be fur
nished for training of new army of
the size indicated by some news dis
patches printed since the great often
Sfve DeRan. speeding up Ine SenulnS
of men abroad depends upon other fac
tors. such as shipping and munitions.
and also upon the more remote but
highly important considerations in
volved in not depicting farms and war
industries of workers essential to their
continuance.
Reinsurance was given to the farmers
of the country today in the form of
statement authorized by the War De-
partment that furloughs will be grant
ed to enlisted men to enable them to
engage in farming during the present
season. These furloughs were provided
for in the act of March 16. 1918.
Look for Counter Offensive.
No further word has come here, Army
officers state, of the means to be en-
ployed in merging American troops
with those of the French and British.
If Gen. Foch. is laying foundations for
continuous operation on the broad
scale indicated he would nAd to be
certain of his reserves and detailed
plans for employment of American
troops would have to be worked out.
In connection with the possibility of
a plan of campaign broader than that
of hurling the enemy back to his old
lines, it was pointed out that the Ger
man defenses there which stemmed the
Even II the allies were successful in
rushing the German lines back over the
twenty or thirty mile zone wrested from
the allies. Gen. Fochs forces would face
those defenses with an organization
weakened by. the wear and tear of the
attack Hence. some officers were in
clined to look elsewhere for the counter
offensive to which they are pinning |
their faith.
Speeding up of American troop
movements to France is engrossing
much attention. President Wilson held
his weekly conference with the heads of II
the war-making and production
branches OF the government today. and
It. is understood that ways and means
for throwing the full resources OF the
United States into the conflict this year
were talked over.
Movement Already Accelerated. II
The means of housing and training
he men are rapidly becoming available ]
md the movements to France have al
-eady been greatly accelerated. 1t was J
earned autforitatiye1y that with ad- I
iitional British troop ships available {
and supplies for all the
nsn 1t plans to send under its con- &
,tantly Quickening program.
From now on the proportion OF fight I
ng troops in Gen. Pershing's army will
Increase rapidly. Heretofore the ex-
ensive scale on which preparations
we're being made In France has de-
handed the aending ahead of special ,
inits and technical troops at rate out
y an proportions to the fighting units {
1hioA were also moving. Probably
.e1S9r % par can't OF the force in France /
~ 70 short time ago were troops Of