Evening journal., 1918-10-03
ENEMY SEEKS SAFER
GROUND FOR WINTER
General Staff Officials Do
Not Look for Yielding
of All Belgium
MAY GIVE UP
ALL FRENCH SOIL

WASHINGTON. Oct 3-With the
German defensive positions steadily
breaking down under sustained pres
sure from Verdun to the North Sea
and with Cambria and ST. Quentin now
under. Allied domination, there are clear
indications here that the German high
command foresees the possibility OF the
Teuton armies being forced to evacu-
ate all Of Flanders and France before
lighting stops with the winter.
Signs are accumulating TO show that
the Germans are making all prepara-
tions to continue their rearward move
ment to the FrancO-Belgian frontier
and clear intimations reached the
State Department that the Germans are
preparing to evacuate If necessary q
large part Of Belgium.
Secretary Lansing has received word
that all rolling stock, hospitals and
other supplies are being moved from
The district Of the fourth German army
10 the interior. German reserves
which were being held In Belgium
have oeen ordered to The front. The
restrictions designed 10 protect naval
information In Belgium have been made
doubly severe and the belief prevails
that at least one OF the German U-boat
bases Is being moved to a more secure
position.
The information concerning Belgium
comedies with reports received here In
Official quarters regarding German
preparations for the evacuation Of large
areas in France. The, apparent determ-
nation Of the German high command
20 lay all occupied territory waste be-
fore moving his troops out forms part
of this general plan and has already
aroused indignation here and abroad
It is understood that the United
States government in cooperation with
Entente governments Is considering
sending an ultimatum 10 Germany
warning her that II this process OF
vanton destruction continues the
United States and the Entente viii exact
full toll from historic German cities
as soon as the American and Allied
forces reach German soil.
Retirement Not Voluntary.
Officials and diplomats here empha-
size the fact that the threat OF reprisals
alone may hold this wanton destruc-
tlon in check No other considerations
except fear for themselves so far have
made any impressions on the Germans.
The German air raids continued un-
sbated over all protests and regard
less OF the appeals from civilization
until the Allies began their policy Of
reprisals against German cities. Then
the air raids to a large extent ceased.
With respect 10 Germany's prepara-
tions for The evacuation Of France and
the western part Of Belgium general
stan officers here pointed out today
that this does not mean that the Ger
mans voluntarily VIII withdraw out OF
this territory. The idea advanced by
some Of the critics that the German
high command shortly viii order this
wholesale withdrawal 10 shorten the
line or for other military reasons Is
not supported by the general staff ex-
perts. In the first place they say that
the withdrawal would not shorten the
line appreciably, and secondly they say
that this strategy would be so obvious
iy to Germanys disadvantage that they
can hardly conceive Of 10 being carried
out voluntarily.
Under the old army plans such as
prevailed during the Franco-Prussian
war Of 1870. withdrawal 20 the frontier
meant greatly shortening the line. But
now that Germany has violated the neu-
irality OF Belgium and made that coun-
try battle ground the line IS not short
ened 50 greatly even II the retirement
was carried TO her own frontier.
The disadvantage TO Germany Of hay-
Ing the battle line established on her
own frontier would be felt in countless
ways. German cities and towns.