The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-25
Washington Is Not Depressed
Over Conditions on Front.
Germany Is Seeking To Break
Down Our Spirits.
CALL IT PROPAGANDA GUN"
And SO-CaIIed "American Re-
verses at Chauny," Lie. \
Open Fighting Is Just What the
Allies Desire.
BY CARL D. GROAT.

washington, March 25.-That Ger
many seeks to injure American morale
by her propaganda guns was the IN
| ference drawn here today upon arrival
of dispatches denying American re-
verses at Chauny.
Germany's official statement yester-
day claimed American forces were
beaten back when brought up with the
French to stem the boche rush.
The falsity of this statement was re-
parded as part of the TeutonS' now
well known plan of undermining the
allies by encouragement with false
scares. ~
| That American reserves will have
share in the defense now stout,y
made by the British is possible. Au-
| thorities pointed out, tho. that the
| American spirit is such that 1t Will not
| be swerved by false stories of reverse
nor even by actual reverses.
Early today no word had neen an
nounced here as to American par
| ticipation or as to General Pershing' s
thoughts on the developments in the
| smash against the British lines. PerSh-
| ing cables were studied thoroly yester-
day and last night by General March
| and general staff officers. Peering
over maps they locked themselves in
staff headquarters. while hungry
press waited long for word of the
| American situation.
General Pershing's weekly sum
mary was the cable they had puzzled
SO long over, March said.
Newspaper men were puzzled that
Pershing had not answered the Sat-
urday urgent request for information,
but it was assumed that some time to-
day he would furnish the department
without prejudice to the military
cause.
No Depression Here.
The nations capital is not depressed
over the west front events in this criti-
cal struggle. Depression is fatal to
there is no reason now to believe that
the tBritish-game always and best on
the defensive-with reserve aid, will
| fail to stard off the Teuton and in
| f1ict serious losses on him, according
to the general feeling here.
| The gravity of this hour should not
be underestimated, authorities say;
neither should this nation or any of
the allies give up to the despair that
/, has followed the wake of every often
! sive.
! The British lines has yielded far. To
an extent. it is more than many had
anticipated. But, unless one knows
the inside of the allies strategy, it is
| impossible to judge fully of its mean
| ing.
Want Open Fight.
| It may be, some suggest, that the
British are drawing the enemy on and
| that open fighting will be the out
come of this struggle. Open fighting
| is what many American officers would
like to see, for they believe that only
with it can the struggle be decided.
The line to which the British have
retired, has long been prepared.
France and England dug in during the
winter months when the German Of
fensive was being advertised and it
was realized that such vast numbers
would be used as to make some re-
tirement probably inevitable.
| But the retirement, according to all
reports, had been in order, without
panic and with heavy casualties for
the on-coming Teuton hordes.
| Perhaps, it is suggested, the allies
underestimate the reserve strength
of the Germans But enemy employ
ment of one million or more men
meant to military men that he was
| bound to press back the allies. Yet
| it did not mean this advance would
mean break thru followed by an en-
veloping movement. The British re-
sistance now apparently is stiffening
and it is felt here that soon the boche
will suffer fresh losses from counter
| assaults
The war department regards the
German offensive a. a gigantic gamble
by the German militarists. This opera
ton confirms 10 us that the German
| higher command is unable to control
the strategic situation thru political
agencies" says the weekly war sum-
mary, las has been INCREASINGLY at
| tempted during the past four months
in an effort to retain its domination
over the peoples of the central en-
pires, and, if possible, force victor
ious peace by the fortune of arms"
| ----e------
| nAKT AMI N0TEC