Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-01-30
EDITORIAL
THE WORLD AT WAR

fered as sincere and for exactly what they are
worth:
Leading military experts agree that Germany
is now preparing for big push along the west
ern front Just where this will break is not
known It is thought that the Kaiser will launch
attacks on both ends of the front with an idea Of
breaking through and enveloping the center OF
the allied army. With this in view thousands OF
troops from Austria and the, east front have
been nassed in Flanders on the west and north
of Nancy on the east. The allied arms occupy
most of the high ground and are confident OF
their ability to hold the enemy. The western
army of the central empires at present numbers
about $50 divisions or 100000 men, They plan,
according to military experts, to increase this to
200 divisions (The full German division con-
sists of 10000 men,
The American troops now number better than
100000 men. This is divided about equally be-
tween the three groups-regular army, national
army and guardsmen. In France there is at
present probably about one-third of this number.
Intensive training has gone on for some time but
it is considered unlikely that America will play
any decisive part in the war before 1919 By
that time if her allies are not crushed by the
mass of Teutonic arms this country should be
approaching a part of her potential strength. If
the war lasts until 1919 this country should
have three million men engaged.
1t is patent to most observers that Russia is
done and completely done, Germany can take
any point in Russia including the capital any
time she gets ready The myth about <the terri
BILE Russian winter so often offered is largely a
fetch. Armies do not move on foot today as they
did in Napoleons time. Be it said also that had
Napoleon had the Kaisers modern methods of
transportation he could never have been lick
ed. AS military strategists the kaiser and his
high command are tyros along side CT the Cor
slcan. Russia has completely fallen to pieces
and must not be considered aside from a passive
resistance for years. On the other hand the Rus
sian stubbornness over peace terms advantageous
to the German is proving thorn to Berlin. The
latters effort to assume the role of peace maker
and at the same time playing for vastly increas-
ed territory has proven boomerang for POTTS.
dam diplomacy. The child-like Russians took
Germany at it's own word and now refuse to
adopt chicanery. So much for the good side of
BOlshevikism
Italy has apparently rallied and aided by the
weather is holding the Austrian army in the
mountains. Lately the Austrians have abandon
ed some OF the advanced trenches and given up
MOnta TOmba, for which they expended much
ammunition and many lives. This move may be to
ul the Italian offensive Gas they did Just prior
to the October debacle) or to shorten their lines
Italy may hold next spring when the Austrian
German army takes the offensive but the mill
tary experts express doubt.
Taking the situation as a whole the balance
at present seems in favor of the kaiser He real
ICES that he must break through in the west to
gain a decisive victory On the other hand his
three previous attempts were failures The
French under Foch broke his line at the Marine
and forced him back fifty to seventy miles
where ne dug in and stayed there. At Verdun
the kronprinz lost thousands Of lives and is fur
Their away from his objective than he was two
years ago this winter when the Verdun attack
commenced,
Just following the battle Of the Marine the
British held the Germans in Flanders in that
great race for the key positions along the coast.
In all Of the above instances the kaisers forces
vastly outnumbered those Of the entente Can
he break through now? The military experts
think not.
From an internal standpoint the central en-
pires seem to be in bad way. Food rationing
for three years has brought the civilian popula-
ton to point of desperation. Riots are taking
touched in this matter. The observers doubt
the effect of internecine troubles in pulling down
the military system. But it goes without saying
that these things do not make the military
party's bed any easier.
Locally and in or own country considerable
Uproar is going on at present over alleged army