The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-18
PEACE OFFENSIVE
SURE TO FOLLOW
PRESENT DRIVE
Germany May Have Some
thing TO Say AbOut LOr-
raine Soon.
SHE CAN'T FOOL ALLIES
Some Of the People Over
There Want a Veritable
I Knockout.
she CAN'T FOOL ALLIES
~ c. c. LYON.


Who II Now In This Country on
Ruriouehl
when the present big German o.
io1oivo On tho western front falls fiat
siile the four that have preceded i,
Igl1co nArcn Il. then look out for an
other big offensive, but OF an entirely
different kind.
Everything indicates that a peace
.olIouolvO Is next on Germany's pro
sorlm for ending the war.
Four tlmea new. within the last
three months. Germany has failed in
.ner efforts 10 put over knockout
punch on the allies. She started her
NTH drive a. q time when our side
q stronger In men. munitions. money
boats. airplanes and fighting spirit
than Il was on March 81.
We're In better shape in every way
- halt and flatten out this latest Of
ton8lSO than any Of the preceding
eoeS.
Bat the German military party will
Dc the very last crowd in that country
20 see the handwriting on the wall
bour Ineffective offensives haven't
been enough TO pound into their thick
heads the fact that the tide OF battle
long ago turned in favor OF the allies,
and that Germany IL only dashing her
self 10 pieces on rocks so long as she
Keeps up Successive offensive.
They still cling &c the slender hope
that something mey happen that will
! lgl them get into Paris: and they are
ip1ildl1h enough 10 figure that the waf
would be over and a peace signed on
1tgman terms. II once Paris were in
. German hands.
4 Il Is my sanest Judgment that even
Paris, with lis untold riches and Grt
ilIoasuros, could be taken by Germany,
vet the war would still go on.
!, Paris isn't al OF France. In fact,
,1lere would still be more than three
'touIths Of France left in allied hands,
and ! feel I know French sentiment
,sHoli enough 10 say that the French
ihotion will never quit so long az there
.to the least chance TO defeat the Hun
hosdeS who nave already done 50
much damage 10 their country
q Now. German statesmen are show.
Inc themselves kecner observers OF
the present trend Of military events
than cermen generals.
& These statesmen evidently haven't
much hope OF Germany getting very
iar With this fifth offensive. Trey see
. n 4 only another effort OF the mil.
t1Ty 10 try TO make good on cxtrava.
gant promises made to the German
.nA(lon.
The groundwork has already been
lale for q peacs offensive and I look
: Cor these peace offers TO be made very
soon after the present offensive Is
stopped.
y Here's one straw. out o; many,
which shows which way the wind is
,bloWlne:
The German chancellor announces
that Germany never had any serious
,lnlentlon Of holding Belgium perma'
'uently, but holds II now as 2 pawn
10 b used for trading purposes around
the peace table!
Since when has the world under.
stood that Germany didh't propose
10 hold Belgium permanently?
Every act and move that Germany
has made IN Belgium indicated that
the Huns proposed 70 make II part
,0f the German empire.
Germany would evacuate Belgium
to-day Il, by 20 doing. she could save
herself from that awful beating the
,allios are about to give her.
Don't be surprised il German states.
men next come forward with liberal Of.
,Iors IN regard TO AIsace.Lorraine. I've
had moro than one hint that they
might DO willing 10 divide that prov.
.Inco $3.50 with France.
Germany IL in no shape 10 20
Through another year OF gruelling war.
Her naanDower Is low. her food sup.
plies are 20 short her civilian popula.
silcn = on the verge Of starvation. and
the national morale Ia at its lowest
Cbb. because German generals haven
made good on their boastful promises
~ German victory.
German peace offers will become
more definite within the very near fl.
'loro, because she would rather have
= peace that would enable her to save
touothing out Of the wreck--her hold
~ Russia, for ins:ance-than a peace
1ICl1fod entirely BY the allies. which
would Leave her In the position OF 0
second % third rate power.
. q not think Germany can end this
D1r " mere peace offers. no matter
hoG liberal they may be.
I mink ! know the temper OF the
allies. Belgium. for one. wants to see
Illm1ny On the fiat OF her back. and
Belgium troops want 10 have a chance
10 Wreak revenge by destroying few
hundred German cities and towns.
And France, I'm inclined TO believe.
also wants TO punish the Germans for
~ he dirty work they've done ON
French a0il-tne destruction OF
4Fe1ch towns, the ou,raging and XIII.
jnGfOl French women and children.
an oholling Of Paris
The British will want 10 drop some
I1mb1 bn Berlin. in retaliation for the
bombing Of London.
And we Americans want 70 sec =
Eormany so badly licked that she can
Ibror raise her militariStic head aga.a.
n Germany may not nave such sn oasr
IlI1o IN making peace With the allies.
EEon when she gets ready for peace.
n It