Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-09
GRAND FORKS HERALD, SATURDAY., FEBRUARY ., 1918.

GRAND FoR1
Baker repeated his conviction that there would be
enough ships ready for the troops to get them across
in the required time. This was doubted by Mr.. Hitch
cock and other members Of the committee.
The proposal OF a war cabinet or council such As has
been suggested by Senator Chamberlain ana others has
gone by~the board according to the opinion OF many
congressman and outside observers. The very full state
ment OF war preparations made by Secretary Baker was
believed at the time to have influenced sentiment enough
to insure the defeat Of the war council bill, and certain
changes made in the handling Of the purchasing and
other work Of the department were taken to mean that
the work of reforming the methods was being seriously
pressed forward. Another and more recent element in
the situation is the introduction by Senator overman
OF what is regarded as an administration bill for the en-.
larsenent OF the presidents war powers in such meas
ures that all previous proposals have been cast into the
shade. The powers to be granted to the president under
this bill are 90 vast that many Of the senator's have de-
clared that the passage Of the bill will mean nothing less
than the complete abdieaton Of its law making functions
by congress aud the placing in the hands Of the presi.
dent Of power such as is welded by no other man on
earth. The bill proposes that the president shall have
authority to delegate to any agency that he may choose
the expenditure Of funds for war purposes, to abolish
any Of the war making agencies now in existence and
create Others, and to transfer the personnel Of any de-
partnent to any other department at will. According
to those who object to the bill the president would under
its provisions become the absolute dictator. with power
to pursue any course whatever with reference to the
war. Advocates of the legislation, while maintaining
that the bill confers on the president no moro power
than it is necessary for him to have, admit that the bill
is very far-reachins, and the general feeling in congress
is one Of aStonishnnent NJ the s~>rninr natur ~ th>
changes proposed.
The situation on all the war fronts remains prac-
tically unchanged, and the activities Of the various forces
have not differed materially from those for weeks past.
On the Italian front there has been no resumption Of
great activity. The Italians appear to be holding their
lines strongly, and the Austrians have made no effort
to advance from the positions toward the foothills to.
ward which they were obliged to retire after the Italian
victory on the Asiaso plateau and in the rugged district
just beyond.
.
On the west front there has been the usual skirudish-
ing by small parties, and the uslal duels. The situation
there has a special interest for Americans since it has
been announced that American troops are in charge Of
a short section of line near the Lorraine border, and
that there have been occasional raids by either party.
In all cases our men have given a good account Of them
selves, and they are apparently settling down into the
real business of soldering.
. r
In the larger way interest centers on the question
of when and where the Germans are to start their great
offensive. 1t appears to be accepted everywhere that the
Gernsns will make at least one effort to break through
the allied lines, and the question Of where the blow will
be struck is the one uppernost in the minds Of observ-
ers. Several reasons are advanced for the belief that
the initiative will be taken by tho Germans. 1t is pointed
out that the allies have nothing to gain by an attack in
force on the German positions until the presence of large
numbers of Americans on the scene gives them such an
overwhelming preponderance that the Germans cannot
hope to Withstand them in spite of the vast accessions of
German troops from the Russian front, the allies are
said now to surpass them in both man power and NUM-
tons on the west front, but the difference is not great
enough to warrant the expectation Of more than slight
advances here or there, with the Gus losses which
the attacking party must expect to suffer. With a really
large American army to reinforce them the situation
will be entirely different.
.
The Germans. it is again pointed out. can expect to
gain nothing by waiting. They must strike sometime.
And they must strike before the great body of Amer
leans arrives. Therefore they will strike as early in the
spring az weather. and soil conditions and the DISPOSE
ton of their troops will permit. That is the line Of ar
sunent usually followed, and the assumption is that the
Germans have determined to stake everything on the
SUCCESS OF the offensive for which they have been max
ing elaborate preparations.
Predictions are of little account in such a cas-. It
may be noted. however, that no one questions the ability
OF the Germans TO drive wedges into the allied positions
if they choose to pay the price in men killed, and It Il.
assumed that they are ready to- pay the price. There
is no expectation on this side that they will be able to
break the line at any point, and the statement attributed
to Hindenburs that he expected to be in Paris bv the
first of April is dismissed as a characteristic piece Of
German boasting. The general belief appears Ia n. that