The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-03-21

were "bluffing" was the strategy of
the German and Austrian general
staffs in the offensive against Italy.
How successful this was and how
completely, at least, Italy of the Allies
was taken in" is very evident from
the situation-review statement of
Secretary of War Baker two or three
days before the disastrous break
through the Italian front. In effect,
Mr. Baker said that the Germans and
Austrians were "bluffing," and no
offensive need be expected at that
time. The Secretary of War of
course, was relying upon official in
formation he had received.
The New Republic" characterized
the Austro-German offensive as a
"ghastly surprise" That testifies to
the success of Hindenburg and Luden-
dorff's strategy to create the impress
sion of bluff where they actually
aid decided to strike a blow
1t was no secret, certainly not in
Germany, that the German General
staff had acceded to the earnest en-
treaties of Vienna, to make and TO
take over the command and direction
of a joint drive against the Italians
Even the German public recognized
that it was the logical military move
after the collapse of Russia.
1 heard it freely discussed in Ber-
lin in May. 1t almost seemed as if
the General Staff wanted it known
that they were preparing an offensive
on the Isonzo line. But the number of
troops, the point in the line to be
attacked and the fateful hour were
deep, dark secrets to the last minute.
recalled only afterward the remark
of one of Lulendorff's chef aides
wait until the end of August and see
what our military situation is then. a"
Some writer's nd newspapers pro-
fess to see in Germany's apparent i'm
pending offensive in the west merely
a bluff" to cloak a drive against the
Saloniki front.
Germany has little need of keeping
dark any intentions or preparations
of blow on that front Hindenburg
and Ludendorff know full well that
the French and the English and the
Serbs cannot increase their forces in
Macedonia even if they are aware of
the coming of an offensive
That is all but precluded by the dis
lance and by the tonnage problem
There is a shortage of ships and the
smooth Mediterranean is easy hunt
ing ground for the U-boats
More important still is the IN.
changeable situation and the fact that
for every 5000 men that England car
take there in ten days or two weeks
the Germans can move that number
in sixty to seventy-two hours. Thai
could be kept up indefinitely and al
ways to the disadvantage of the AL
lies. With the Bulgarian and Turk
ish divisions on the Rumanian, Rus
sian and Caucasian fronts now re
leased, Germany would not necessar
lily have to shift a large number o
troops from Germany for an offens
i've against Salonik.
In view of the great strategical ad
vantage of the Germans, the long lin,
of communication and distance from
the home bases of supplies, the short
age of ships and the difficulties t.
overcome, the Allies Saloniki from
appears almost as hopeless as it di
on GallipOli
That the Germans and Bulgarian
have not bothered more about tn
Allies in Macedonia has been largel
because Hindenburg and Ludendorf
were busily engaged upon "jobs
elsewhere which they considered nor
important. And. as I have stated be
fore, my observations were, and tn
developments of the war have con
firmed them. the German Genera
Staff ever since Hindenburg and III
dendorff took charge of it, plans to d
but one thing at time and tries [
make good job" of that
At present, those Siamese militar