The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-03-14

American forces occupy splendid po-
sitions throughout practically the en-.
tire line. They are in nearly all cases
on the high ground. and 1t is these
strong defensive positions against
which Germany must throw her shock
troops in massed battallons. The
price these troops will pay for even an
attempt to break through will be ter.
rifle, and in all probability more than
the million men Won Hindenburg has
propheSied. 1t is not likely that
even the iron discipline of the German
army will withstand such losses.
Possibility Of a disagreement be-
because Of the refusal Of the latter
country to supply certain war mate
rials to General Pershing was remov.
ed by the signing Of an economic agree
mcnt, under which General Pershing
will get mules, army blankets and 9TH
er materials from Spain in return for
cotton, oil and other commodities from
the United States. Success of these
negotiations was welcomed by officials
in Washington az ability to buy sup
plies in Spain will save ship tonnage
and enable General Pershing to build
up his reserve stores more rapidly. The
United States was able to bring pres.
sure to bear upon Spain by refusing
fuel to Spanish steamers in American
, ports.
The German invasion Of Russia
mysteriously slowed up and on March
first 1t was reported from London that
the forward movement of the Huns
had been stopped on orders from Ber-
lin. At the same time reports from
Pctrograd were to the effect that the
bolsheviki were preparing to make the
best possible defense Of that city If
1t was attacked.
On February % 1t was reported from
PetrOgrad that the allied ambassadors
had left the Russian capital for 81
IBERIA. 1t Is unlikely that they will be
able to reach the Pacific coast Mt
! FladvOStOk in less than close to three
weeks, and the probabilities are that
they will be seriously mOlested by the
mobs of armed bandits that are roam
=
tains TO beyond Lake Bnlknl The boil
sheriki have practically no control Of
any kind beyond the Ural mountains,
though 1t claims TO have suppressed
the so-caled Siberian republic.
Every report received from Austria
indicates that that country would
Willingly seek peace on any fairly rea-
Sonable basis offered by the allies, II
1t We're possible for her to do so. but
she is so dominated by German innu-
ence that 1t IS hardly possible for her
to break away. The hold of Germany
is maintained through the Austrian
army which has been very largely Ger
mnnized since the war began.
So it Is believed that Austria VIII
have to remain In her unholy partner
ship despite her war wcarincss. She
has lost 100000 men. hcr food sltu-
alton Is desperate. and the future,
even II Germany could win. Is dark
for her, for greater Germany would
only mean a more impotcnt Austria,
but she cannot break away. She
must continue In the war under pain
Of being stamped on by the nation
that has her In It's power.
That Is how our allies regard the
Austrian situation. and is the ex.
planatiOn OF their lukewarmness
toward the American effort TO widen
the rift between the kaiser End En-
pcrOr Carl.
The German socialists have not taken
! kindly to the German governments
I attitude toward President Wilson's
last peace message. During the de-
bate In the rcichstag on Won Hertlings
! speech Philipp Scheidemann, socialist,
took the emperor to task for his reply
| to the address OF the burgOmaster OF
| Hamburg. in which TIE emperor said
1--WE desire TO live in friendship with
neighborlrg peoples, but victory for
the German arms must first be rec
ognized."