The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-09-21
EXACTLY WHAT
WAS EXPECTED.
Washington Not Surprised at
Germany's Acceptance Of
Austria's Peace Proposal.
TURNING POINT OF W AR
Morale of Foe Becomes Lower
Daily-Losses of Huns Placed
at 100000 Men.

Washington. Sept. 2i.-U. N. So
Germany's reply. accepting the Aus
! trian proposal to talk peace In a mon
| binding conference" was exactly what
, was expected here. II does not change
the situation. The entire matter is a
closed book so far as the United States
| is concerned.
Advices received here today indicate
that the central powers will make an
other move In their planned peace
maneuver in the near future. Berlin
and Vienna are reported again In con-
ference. However. officials very frank
ly state that nothing definite can come
from any peace move that does not
accept the outlined position of the
United States. something which Ger
man leaders naturally are not yet
ready to do.
The situation from the allied stand
point is getting better daily. The war
today is being carried directly to the
Teutons just as Gen. March. on behalf
OF the general staff. promised congress
some months ago. Along the entire
line OF the western front, extending
from the North sea to the Swiss from
tier: In Russia, in Palestine and Mace
donia. the great military machine Of
the central powers is on the defensive.
Turning Point.
At no point Is 1t able to take the
offensive. The turning point of the
war lies well behind the allies. The
morale Of the foe, lately so strong,
daily becomes lower.
Officials pointed out today that the
military operations In Macedonia are
OF the greatest Importance. That Tur-
key will be cut Off from her allies be-
fore winter sets in now Is considered
certain here. The effect of this must
be very great. Turkey has little stom-
ach right now to continue fighting.
Neither. for that matter. has Bulgaria.
But the Turkish armies are maintained
in the field only because of the great
number of German officers who are
serving under the banner of the sultan.
Turks May Ask for Peace.
Cut off fom communication with
Berlin. the Turks can be depended upon
to ask for separate peace. Whether
they would get 1t. however, is a mat
ter that circumstances would decide.
The United States is not at war with
either Turkey or Bulgaria as yet. Con-
sequently Its attitude toward a sep
arate peace would be entirely an ad-
visory one.
l But Armenia and Palestine must
remain secondary operations. So. for
that matter must Russian efforts. all
though the defeat of the bolshevik
forces in Siberia and in the north has
increased the possibility that the Len
ine-Trotzky government may be over
thrown and an anti-German control
organized.
Western Front.
1t is on the western front that Ger
many must be crushed and 1t is there
that the supreme military council is
planning its strongest moves. Ger
many now has on the western front
about 100000 men. Losses since the
of the German advance
on Paris and the channel ports are
placed at 100000 men. This includes
dead. prisoners and wounded. In this
list are the very best troops of the
central empire.
The realization of this fact is PEN
throughout internal Germany,
The pessimism thus created has been
such that Zurich dispatches fatty state
that the government has been COM
PEELED to take measures for rapid and
pitiless repression" In cdse of revolt
anywhere. And all German Official
dom. under direct orders from the high
command, Is shouting that the allies
are determined to obliterate Germany
and that the fatherland Is carrying on
only a war of defense"
The plans of the allies in no way
lake into consideration any possible
German revolt. The junker control is
100 great for this. But 1t is realized
hat the constant pounding, now at
1ne place, now at another, eventually
must break the heart of the German
.roops. No longer does their wonder-
ul network of strategic railways give
hem the advantage of superiority of
nanpower. With sledgehammer blows
coming at every section of the western
ront, the troops must be maintained
u maximum strength everywhere.
The great advantage that has resulted
o the allied forces from this is, of
course, obvious.
The fact that Metz now Is under the
Ire of the American big guns must
llso have its effect. The American
hells are carrying the war into this
lection Of Germany, while American
-viators, operating from their base Just
ver the German frontier, are carry
ng to the Rhinish towns a taste of
he 'frightfulness," which up until a
cry short time ago Germany had a
monopoly on.
And army officers here who know
II of the facts declare that Germany
VII not stand the gaff as have the y
'ritishl and French towns that\ have
uttered for four years from German :
ir bombardments." But the American
nd allied airmen are not bombing un-
rotected cities and towns. Their oper-
tions are part of a general, WELL
tanned program. Munition dumps,
aiiway functions and stations and for
hcations are the objective. And their
uccess so far has been very great, Of