The Mena weekly star., 1918-02-21
GERMAN DRIVE IS
 ABOUT TO START
Coming Battles, for Which Kaiser's Forces Are Fully Prepared, Ex- pected To Re Rloadiest of the
 War-Seek Final Decision.

British Army Headquarters in France, Feb. i9.-The great German offensive on the western front may be expected to begin at any moment now as far as the British front is concerned, the main thrust will be made on the sector between Arras and St. Quentin.
 Tanks and "a new mysterious gas" will be employed by the ene- my in the attempt to break through the allies line. Other attacks will be delivered further south. These facts have become known through captured German prisoners and from information gleaned in other ways.
 The plans of the German higher command are complete and after many weeks of intensive training of assaulting troops they are ready to make the supreme and final eff fort which has been advertised so widely in the past weeks
 New Methods of Attack
 Field Marshal von Hindenburg and General von Ludendorff appear to have realized that the old meth ods of attack in which a long bonn bardment is employed, are too well known to produce the results de- sired. Accordingly, the German troops are being told that surprise attacks, such as were used in Cali cia last summer at Riga and again on the Isonzo are tO De tried aginst the allies on the western front.
 Much stress has been laid on the fact that tanks and new gas are to 1 be used, leaving the infantry little to do but walk through the gaps and consolidate the positions cap- tured Those obstacles which the German artillery fire has not oblit- | erated will be rushed by the troops or ignored. The German infantry will rely on weight of numbers, masses of machine guns,and mobile batteries to finish the work begun 1 by the tanks and the gas.
 German Hopes Run High l Word has been passed out by the German high compand that few of tho allied troops will survive the effects of the tanks, the gas and the 1 bombardment and that fresh Ger man infantry will overcome speed ] ily any resistance offered in captur- cd positions.
 Despite these assurances the in tensive training to which they have been put. the German troops are 1 frankly skeptical and are undertak- 1 ing the task with no enthusiasm, aecording to prisoners. They feel they are going to. be thrown into battle to he used as cannon fodder and do not relish tho prospect. It is said Generai yon Ludend0rn recently addressed a body of ln- fantry at Laon and asked how many men were willing to fight 10 a fin- ish. Only five non-eommissioned officers and privates stepped for ward. The others declared their desire for an early peace by ar rangement'.
 Allies Calmly Confident
 General von Hulier, who is re- ported to have laid the plans for the capture of Riga, has come to the western front t0 assist in the preparation. The lessons of the cap ture of Riga have been preached religiously to the German troops It has been pointed out that there a preliminary bombardment of four or five hours to cut the enemy wire and demolish defenses was suffi- cient to give the Germans firm footing in the Russian positions.
 The enemy troops. have not been told. however. that the morale of the Russians at Riga was very low and that the German attack was complete surprise. 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 big blow and await with assurance the next move of the German high command.
 No Doubt of Outcome
 The coming battle will perhaps be the most sanguinary of the war and they will be the most intense yet seen But they mark the be- ginning of the end, for if tho Ger mans do not break clear through the allied line and they can never do it they virtually will be finish ed The emperor is putting every ounce of strength into this great gamble and if it fails in the early stages it means the end of Prussian militarism.
 The allied forces have a superior ity in numbers, both men and guns, and no doubt is felt in this front as to the outcome.
 Oppose Boycott Against Germany Naftrr