The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-20
HAMMER LIFTED TO STRIKE CRUSHING BLOW
Future Of WORLD To Be DECIDED
BY GREATEST BATTLE IN ALL HISTORY

pushed to Il by home developments
or other events or to make smash
In Italy or the Balkans under the
cover Of tho advertising Of west
front drive. Now, however, these
men believe the drive is coming.
They say, though, that tho German
has wasted much time and n he de-
lays much further no will encounter
bad spring weather and muddy ter
rain.
Asked why the allies had not
undertaken an offensive In view Of
the German delay, the experts point
ed out that the allied lines are 50
disposed that they probably can con.
vert a German smash Into an allied
victory.
American troops will take part In
any big push. Tho censorship pre-
vents revelation Of the number avail
able, At was said that consider
able number have passed beyond tho
training stage and are now In the
seasoned fighting stage.
Other men are rapidly finishing
their training.
Crisis Reached This Spring.
[By J. ". T. Mason, Written for The
United Press.1
NEW YORK, Feb. 2O.-Europe has
suddenly become filed with tense
crises. that may at any moment change
the comlexion OF the war, tor its pres
ent comparative passivity and bring
about the final mastery.
The relations between Germany and
Austria are strained as they have
besn at no other time since the war
began: the contending forces along the
west front are on the tip Of expectancy.
for the delivery Of q giant blow; the
allies themselves are just passing
through the final phase Of critical sit
uation concerning the authority OF the
Versailles war council; Russia is re-
vealing an internal situation Of grow
ing confusion that may turn out to be
the greatest crisis of all.
At no previous period IN the war has
there been so intense feeling Of gen.
eral suspense as now exists. 1t Is as
LII an instructive belief had begun to
circulate that the early days of spring
were preparing the ground for civil1-
zation's supreme crisis.
The critical situation In Russia,
which is the most spectacular for the
moment must be Judged with extreme
caution. The willingness" of the
Bolshev1ki to sign German peace and
the announced intention Of Lenine and
Trotsky to reply" to the German de-
mands, are coupled with definite state
ments from the United Press curres-
pondent In Petrograd that demobi]izar
ton Of the army and navy had been
stopped and that orders have been
given to resist the German advance.
After the moral victory won by the
Bolsheviki at Brest-Litovsk, the pres
ent new peace program 80 suddenly an
nounced. may turn out to be only a
Temporary measure, dictated by .
crisis within the Bolsheviki circle Of
leaders, that has no lasting sign1f1-
cance.
But whether this be true or not. Won
Hindenburg can put no trust In the
permanence Of any peace signed at
Petrograd while the war continues in
the west.
The era Of crises now rife through
out Europe will hinge on explosive
tendencies in Russia until the war
ends on all fronts.
Won Hindenburg's situation today is
no less disquieting for him than 1t was
yesterday.
| Ready FOR Battle.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-Both the
allies and Germans are now ready Tor
battle" on the west front, Secretary
of War Baker announced today IN MS
weekly war review.
.'The Germans recently have with
drawn q number Of their west front
units from the first line trenches and
are busily training them in mobile
warfare.
According to advices received, the
German general staff hopes that by
massing a large number Of these PICK
ed shock battalions, which have IN
tensively trained, they may deliver q
crushing blow"
However. Baker adds. "a large num-
ber Of units-the bulk Of the German
forces are not assembled in the west
are wholly unframed in the method
Of western front warfare"
Furthermore, Baker says. the Ger
man command realizes fully that their
forces will be met with far more diff
Acult tactical obstacles than any hith.
erto encountered by an attacking
army" The break through Italy. he
added, was possible only after the
"morale had been undermined"
Baker expressed a belief that the
Germans may find it expedient to ad-
vance on Petrograd." He made the
statement in view Of the concentration
of IAN important body of German cav
airy in the vicinity OF Riga
| 'fIt is difficult to determine the ex-
act status Of affairs in southwestern
Russia" Baker added.
/ The retreat Of Russian soldiers be
fore the Turkish army has resulted in
Russian evacuation Of the Armenian
lContinued on page ~