The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-09
The WEEKS war REVIEW
WRITTEN FOR The TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
BY iffF7i ZUffWALT
THE IMPENDING BLOW

The German peace drive has failed
The kaisers attempt to place the re-
sponsibility for continued slaughter
upon the shoulders of the allied gov
ernments has proven a boomerang. 1t
is German and not allied morale that
has been weakened. The world, both
Inside and outside of Germany, now
knows that it is the imperial govern
ment that is prolonging the war by in
sisting upon annexations of conquered
territory.
The end of the peace drive brings
the civilized world face to face with
what the leaders in all allied and leu
tonic countries declare to be the mill
tary crisis of the war. With the open
ing of spring it is universally pre-
dicted that Germany will launch the
most tremendous offensive yet seen in
this greatest of all wars.
The Calm Before the Storm.
Meanwhile the expectant publics of
The warning nations, amid the calm
that precedes the breaking of the
storm, await impatiently the impend-
ing hurricane of blood and steel.
1t is the firm belief of the British
and French military authorities that
the main force Of the assault will fall
upon the French portion of the allied
line in the west.
Where the Blow Fail.
K
there are a number of interesting pos
sibilities remaining to be determined.
First, the attack may fall upon the
French lines west of Verdun, some
where between that fortress and the
city of Laon, where it is believed the
British and French lines now join, or
will join by the time of active fight
ing begins Verdun itself will hardly
be the German objective. 1t is a
strong position and the one attempt
there in 1916 probably has satisfied
the German commanders. Second, the
attack may be concentrated between
Verdun and the american sector
northeast of Nancy. Third. it may fall
! upon the American sector itself.
Fourth, east and south, between the
American front and Switzerland.
Between Americans and Verdun?
| The ground between the American
lines and Switzerland is not favorable
too, big gains there would be of
small strategic value. The American
| front itself might bel attacked as an
act of retaliation against the United
States for entering the war, but such
motive could hardly dominate the
| German high command at a critical
time slike the present when Germany
has her last great opportunity to
bid for a decision. An attack against
the French between the Americans
and Verdun would have many ad-
vantages. In the first place, if sue
cessful, ii would threaten Immediately
the vital communications of the Amer
lean army. The main German supply
base for the armies,at the front lies
directly back of this point and only
a short distance from the present bat
tie lines. The valley of the Moselle
river, runEing>nearly north and south
between Metz and the city of Nancy
behind the American lines, would fur
| nish an ideal highway over which the
Germans could bring up their mer
and supplies in an advance. The cut
tins of the communications of the
American army would upset al
American military plans, menace the
very existence of the American con-
tingent and deal a crushing blow tC
the morale of France by dispelling all
hope. for the time being, of material
assistance from her sister republic
across the Atlantic. Moreover, sue
cess at this point would destroy somt
of the most important of the French
supply bases, make secure the Ger
man salient at st. Mihiel, and com
, plete the eastern jaw of the German
wise about Verdun.
An attack at the same time in tht
Champagne, west of Verdun, would
tend to close the Jaws of the wise and
might make possible the taking o
. that great fortress without the hazard
of a frontal attack against its formid
able defensesr
Another Strategic retreat a1on,
the British front would reliev,
the German lines of all danger from
an effective attack by General Hail
while the battle with the French wa
being fought out. Such retreat
however. if carried out on a seal
large enough to servo the purpos
would necessitate the giving up of tn
submarine bases in Belgium and woul,
constitute a backward movement O
such magnitude as to neutralize mucl
of the military advantage that Nigh
be gained over the French.
German Troops Recalled From Italy
Each days news tends to verify tn
ibelief that the blow will fall some