The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-01-31
GERMAN THRUST
HAS NO TERROR
Terrible Fighting Expected to
Mark Forthcoming Offensive
In West But Allies Do
Not Fear Defeat.
KAISER TAKING GAMBLE
Believed Militarists Are Prepar-
Ing to Risk All On One More
Gigantic Effort to Crush
French Front.
KAISER TAKING GAMBLE
BY ARTHUR S. DRAPER.
Special Cable to The Tribune.

Special Gable to The Tribune.
London, Jan. 29.-Nothing Hertling
could have said was calculated to stiff
fen the British more and unite all opin-
ion against Germany than his comment
on freedom of the seas. 1t was just
as effective as waving a red flag in
front OF a bull. 1t arouSeS even the
pacifists, it enrages the reactionaries to
heights of fury. In several quarters
the deduction is drawn that Hinden
burg is determined to further the mill
tary campaign that he has already re-
received the 80 *" of the civilian lead
erS.
no Divisions in the West.
If that is an accurate Interpretation
of his speech it is we'll TO give some
consideration to the military outlook.
In another month it will be possible to
start an offensive at some points in the
west, though conditions in northern
France and Belgium are likely to post
pone the beginning of the campaign un-
til the middle of April. In the west
Germany has today nearly 10 dlVls-
ions. and it is possible the number may
be increased to close to 200 before sum-
mer.
Some Austrian troops are already re-
ported in the west, but the number is
comparatively small Though the en-
envy forces in the west are greater
than ever before, | know the higher
commands Of the An~Clo-Trench armies
view the future without feeling alarm,
hat they are going along with their
plans for a strenuous spring.
Marshal Haig Is Ready.
I know Haig is expecting fighting,
that he Is suprcmcly confident OF the
result. Just whore tho offensive VIII
he launched and whether it will be
limited is one OF tn" questions when
will remain in doubt fOr some weeks.
Probably the enemy has not yet COM
pleted his plans Of campaign.
An offensive against Saloniki, Whlcn
is one of The possibilities, would De
little more han u sideshow at TINS
period, and worth little to the central
powers beyond the political prestigt
they would gain through success /.
would furnish little noufiFhm"nt 10 'iie
peoujes Of Germany. Austria and Bul"
garia. A drive against italy the mo-
ment me weather permits is not ouly Il
possibility, but 4 p'aCtical certainty
The enemy did not push his advantage
last month, due to the rae ms Ioft'"
were limited and he did hoi Eeilsn ,hS
idea of tackling the frcSh British ana
French forces which went 90 the rescue
of The Italians.
Italy Won't Make Peace.
In many respects the enemy hoids Il
distinct advantage on TINS lfoht, pu'
much depends on his arllity 10 improve
his lines of communication duflhS tns
Winter HAOllLjlS. ! llottNl .' 49, -
more territory here. If Wo",G ne OF Mt
lie more value to him rni"@:' it forced
che Italians to -" for peace, ana mat
IS unlikely, however hard they are
pressed. o..
separate peace than Austria. Practical
Nv all the forecasts of q drive in IN"
west have placed ii agaii%t the French.
French military critics mentioned II
dozen different places where II mlgnt
be expected LITTLE has peGn sala apout
the possibility of an attack against the
British. but Great Britain is Gerinanys
rnost hated rnemy and n when
stands in the way Of her winning VIC
.orv and cOncluding n conquerors
peace.
A Desperate Gamble.
II erna got through to Caials,
It would make little difference Wla'
she did on other sectors or other fronts.
A gain of a few miles in Belgium would
be worth more than an "A OF 100
into Italy or the r~cCapture Of Bagdad
and Jerusalem. Though the enemy mas
made two desperate attempts to batter
his wav through here n has failed,
there is nothing 10 preclude a third at
tcmnt. Germany expects this TO De
the last year OF the war and she is not
waiting for 1919. size has got to WIN
big or make peace. And to win big,
she has got to invest heavily. To win
Jig, she mas got W HOlNf iLt ~ opiSih
81 conducting = continuous offensive
AGAINST a foe wholly her equal.
She did not find he solution at Yer
run. But German generals have d
chance at last to make ono more des-
porate gamble and il will surprise many
observers if they 10 not pick out the
toughest foe instead of the weakest, as
they did in the Serbian, Rumanian.
RUSSIAN and Italian campaigns.
II she drives against the British,
every inch Of ground will he contested.
There will be ~ strategic withdraw
ais" on this front
Germany Is Divided.
The speech of ChaHccllor Won Hert-
linz seems u have pleased no faction
or party in Germany. There is a great
outcry in the press against what L.
called weakness. Peace as seen by Teu-
ton editors is as ia. off as ever. Some
even go as far as saving that the rea,
peace aims OF the central powers We're
not given az all, but were purposely
concealed. The socialists on the one
sand are wrought up because Hertling
VAS not more "Xpiicit-becausc he
made no real attempt 10 approach i
reasonable Understanding with the al.
lied gOYernmcntS-and On the other. the
pan-Gernans ara angry because he diI
not 60 far enough because he did no,
boldly proclaim, and in terms that Ger
many was the ~conqucror and would de-
Eiand a peace that would satisfy all
inc demands Of the anncNationists az
some.
How long the Heitlins ministry will
last is now a question. in view of the
dissatisfaction with his latest pro
nouncement m his failure in general
20 advance the cause of peace nearer
in some Measure give rise to the he