The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-08
Now Expect Drive on SalOniki
Instead of Western Front.
Plans To Clean Up Back Door"
Before Striking in France.
DEMOCRACY'S DARKEST HOUR
Russian Debacle Has Thrown
Vast Resources to Enemy.
United Enemy Armies Might
OVerWheIm SaIOniki Forces.
BY ROBERT ]. BENDER.

washington, MATCH o.-GeI lIldHy .
plunder quest thru the helpless coun-
tries of the near east is now expected
to swing next into Macedonia
Fear of this drive on the Saloniki
front, where the Teutons, with Bull
gars and Turks released from the
Russian and Rumanian front assist
ing, could deliver a mighty blow, is
occupying the attention of allied lead
ers today.
American military men here have
long secuted the probability of big
German drive on the est front this
year-where Germany stood to lose
much if she failed and gain little if
she won. British leaders have now
veered to the same view.
How much more according to the
Teuton plan is her present campaign,
these military men say, of cleaninS z
up the trouble at her back door, an
neXing hundreds of thousands of miles
of territory and millions in wealth
from the occupied lands and then at
last having cleared away the opposi :
ton at her rear, hurl the combined
forces of her own and Vassal armies
against the west front.
View With Alarm.
AS military men view the situation
today, the armies of democracy are
passing thru their darkest hour of the
war.
Germany has achieved, in addition
to wealthy industrial districts in west
ern Russia. the cession of Batum, in
Transcaucasia to Turkey.
Near Batum are some of the richest
manganese ore deposits in the world.
| Already Germany controls the vast
rich oil fields of Rumania, Russia and
Gaiicia and is now welding the links
which will render the grain stores OF
Ukraine hers in the future.
Siear Way Thru Rumania.
By driving thru Rumania to Odes-
shipping from Transcaucasia and Uk
rainia needed fcodStuffS livestock oil
and other supplies.
And to assure these indefinitely fol
the future, to prevent a recurrence o1
her recent near-famine of food Ger
many is expected to drive at the Sa.
| loniki front and attempt to clear away
the last vestige of danger from the
allied forces at her rear.
! That the allies might find it impos.
! sible to adequately meet such a Teu-
tonic onrush in Macedonia, was
frankly admitted before the British
| house of commons yesterday by Chan
cellor of the Exchequer Andrew Bonal
| Law.
+, British Not Optimistic.
Sir Eric Geddes, first lord of the
British admiralty, recently went tc
Saloniki to investigate conditions anc
the possibility of adequate transporta.
| ton of troops and supplies to NEE
| the expected German drive. His re-
i port apparently was not optimistic
Military authorities here view with
equal concern the expected German
assault.
| Enriched by the spoils of her drive.
| against the weak nations of the neal
east, Germany, it is believed woulc
! be hardly inclined to risk much il
morale, men and supplies on a ives
front drive, when there were still more
small nations, rich fields, etc, to bt
/ overrun
And military men point to the fac
that after Saloniki-if Germany i.
/ ccesSful-She may turn again OF
Italy, before turning to the clash OF
! the west front
| But West Holds Real Test
Meantime, however, as Bonar Law
pointed out, ''the man power of Ger
many is not inexhaustible, and they
| can't do everything at once" The al
lies are preparing, with haste as tn,
watchword, for supreme effort il
| the west. 1t is confidently held her,
/ that if Germany continues her ma
rauding expeditions after spoils in tn,
east, she will pay dearly in the west