New-York tribune., 1918-02-06
Victories in Italy and Rus.
sian Peace Prospects
Buoy Soldiers
Great Drive Preparing
With Stimulated Illusions the
Peasant Fighters Go
Gladly to Death
the y cW York. Tribune

German soldiers on the Western
front have been greatly buckcd up by
the victories in Italy and the prospects
of peace with Russia, according to COM
petent observers who come into con-
tact with prisoners and are able to
form conclusions as to the spirit Of the
German army by conversation with
them. The following article is from
the correspondent at the British front
Of "Tnc "Morning Post" of London.
An especially notable feature of this
article is that the evacuation Of towns
behind the German lines is not now.
as heretofore. taken as an evidence Of
preparations Ton Il retreat, but for an
offensive. "Thc Posts corNcsp pondcnt
says:
"Whilc German statesmen talk largely
Of a desire for peace. the German
armies on the Western front continue
their preparations for a new campaign.
Peace undoubtedly is desired as ear
nestly by the war-weary soldiers of
the Kaiser as by their hungry rea-
tives at home, but the astute Higher
Command is not allowing them to sit
IDLY in the invaded territory while the
diplomats negotiate at Brcst-Litovsk.
Despite the rigorous weather there is
constant activity on an unusual scale
behind the German lines. 1t may not
prcsage a tremendous blow against the
Allied forces, but there is no denying
the possibility of such bid for peace
if other methods of securing that de-
sirablc condition should fail in the near
future. The troops in rest are under
ir,ta ir;, al
trenches. which may or may not dupl-
cate certain British defenccs as they
appear on aerial photographs, are used
fer practising attacks, and at all re-
oruit dcpots and instructional schools
"combcd OUT drafts arc being indus
triously drilled into fitness.
Thousands of Civilians Evictcd
"Thc summary eviction of thousands
Of civilians from their homes is an
other indication of the new offensive
policy. Towns which retained their
normal civilian population during three
years and half of war are being
cleared for occupation by troops. Their
wrctchcd inhabitants have been hun
died out into the biting cold with what
few possessions they can carry and
have been transported to other centres,
already overcrowded, many miles from
the front. Prisoners have told of sec
ing gangs Of dispossessed civilians re-
Gently billeted in certain Northern
towns. The area thus cleared is of
considerable size. Other communities
are under notice to leave their homes.
There is 20 attempt to keep these evc-
tions secret. German troops arc en-
undertake a great Notfensive early
in the spring, and it is common talk
among the soldiers III the canteens and
trenches that this Wholesale almost
ostentatious--cl clearance of the civilian
population is intended to provide quar-
ters for masses of fresh troops from
Russia.
"The German Emperor said in one
OF his recent wild speeches to the
Bavarian Crown Princes men that he
intended to take Calais. Strange as it
may seem, this boast appears to have
been received with a certain amount
of credulity. The German soldier just
now us in good spirits. said several
as during the concluding operations on
the Sommc--a marked rise from the
condition of dcspa il which prevailed
carly last summer. Now | am inclined
to think that 1t has since risan still
higher. An informant who has dealt
with German prisoners during the
greater part OF the war expressed to
me his belief that, taken as a whole,
the German troops on this front are
to-day more hopeful than they have
been at any time since the first six
months OF the war. If called upon to
make another great sacrifice they will
undoubtedly respond with alacrity
Again Look for Victory
"Their leaders are again telling them
that the war will be decided by victory
in the field. They bclcvc-again | re-
fleet the view OF prisoners that a
little more hammoring will be sutfi
clcnt to make Britain ask for peace. and
tnat' another six months Of endurance
at most viii be sufficient to insure the
organization Of q peace conference.
They arc not talking, as they did a
few months back, of peace by ncgotia-
ton The German soldier now be-
llcves tnat his leaders will be able to
enforce demands which he had pre-
viously regarded as impossible. lie
thinks that England is starving and on
the verge of revelation. lie is told
that the same conditions prevail there
which led to the collapse of Russia.