The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-02-21
EXPECT ATTACK
AT ANY MOMENT

Is concerned the main thrust will be
made on the sector between Arras
land st. Quentin.
Tanks and new mysterious gas
will be employed by the enemy in
the attempt to break through the al.
lied line. Other attacks will be de.
livered further south. These facts
have become known through captur-
ed German prisoners and from infor-
nation CLEANED in other ways.
The plans of the German higher
command are complete and after
many week of intensive training of
assaulting troops they are ready to
make the supreme and final effort
which has been advertised so widely
in the past weeks.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg and
Gen. Won Ludendorff appear to have
realized that the old methods of at
tack in which long bombardment is
employed are too well known to pro-
| duce the results desired. According
ly the German troops are being told
that surprise attacks, such as were
used in Galicia last summer, at Riga
! and again on the Isonzo, are to be
tried against the allies on the western
front.
Much stress has been laid on the
tanks and new gas to be
used, leaving the infantry little to
do but walk through the gaps and
consolidate the positions captured.
German troops have been trained to
make long approach marches and
then to storm enemy positions after
short gas shell bombardment. Those
obstacles which the German artillery
has not obliterated will be crushed by
the troops or ignored The German
infantry will rely on weight of num-
bers, masses of machine guns and mo-
bile batteries to finish the work be-
gun by the tanks and gas.
Word has been passed out by the
German high command that few of
the allied troops will survive the eff
fects of the tanks, the gas and the
bombardment and that German in
fantry will overcome speedily any re-
sistance offered in captured posi-
tions.
Despite these assurances and the
intensive training to which they have
been put, the German troops are
frankly skeptical and are undertake
ing their task with no enthusiasm, ac-
cording to prisoners. They feel they
are going to be thrown into battle
to be used as cannon fodder and do
not relish the prospect.
1t is said Gen. Won Ludendorff re.
Gently addressed body of infantry
at Laon and asked how many men
were willing to fight to finish. Only
five non-commissioned officers and
privates stepped forward. The 9th.
ers declare their desire for an early
peace by arrangement"
German officers, on the other hand,
appear to have the conviction they
will be able to break through by
means of their secret attacks.
Gen. Won Hutier, who is reputed to
have laid the plans for the capture
Of Riga, has come to the Western
front to assist in the preparation. The
lessons of the capture of Riga have
been preached religiously to the Ger
man troops. 1t has been pointed out
that there a preliminary lombard
ment of four or five hours to cut the
wire and demolish defenses was sufIi-
cient to give the Germans firm foot
ing in the Russian positions The en-
emy troops have not been told, how
ever, that the morale Of the Russians
at Riga was very low and that the
German attack was a complete sur
prise.
The Germans will find the allied
morale at the highest pitch on the
western front and their attack will
be far from the surprise desired. The
allies are ready for a big blow and
await with assurance the next move
of the German high command
The German attack cannot be de-
layed much longer. All information
civilians and soldiers are keyed up to
high pitch Of nervous expectancy
that the strain cannot endure for
long. They are waiting for the at
tack with feverish hope that the high
command can this time make good its
promise. The German troops are ex-
pectcd to fight we'll
The coming battles will perhaps be
the most sanguinary Of the war and
they will be the most intense yet
seen. But they will mark the begin
ming of the end, for if the Germans
do not break clear through the al
lied line-and they cannot-they vir-
tually will be finished. The empcr-
or is putting every ounce of strength
into this great gamt'e and if it fails
in the early stagesS,. means the end
Of Prussian militarism.
The allied forces have superiority
in numbers, both in men and guns
| apI M doubt l., fnlt -, th;o ne