Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-03
GERMAN AMBITION
COURT|NG DISASTER
Exploiting of Russia Likely to
Draw Japan's Activity Into
World War.
WEST STRATEGY BATTLES
BY EDWARD PRICE BELL.

Cablegram to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
LONDON, March 2-Germany's proba-
BILE grand strategy in the near future
continues to engage the thoughts of
military critics, professional and I'M
professional. All preparations have
been made to meet a great German Of
fensive on the west. though no positive
evidence of such an offensive is yet visi-
BILE.
Offensives of the first class cannot be
launched nowadays without immense
preparations. Labor lasting through
weeks is essential to make sure that
when the attack is begun it shall not
anguish or falter for want of sus-
tanned prosecution. Ammunition dumps.
material for road extensions, facilities
for supplying water and hundred
other preliminaries must be provided.
Front Preparations Not Made.
Such preparations the Germans have
not yet made on the west front. Elab-
crate rehearsals for hypothetical Of
fensives are taking place far in the rear
preparations alone, however. desirable
in anticipation of an attack, cannot
obviate the necessity for the prepare
tions indicated Immediately behind the
line of assault.
On December "a, telegraphing from
the west front, 1 reported among other
views one to the effect that the Ger
mans instead of attacking on a grand
scale in the west would endeavor to
obtain solid peace in the east, then try
to crush Italy and the Saloniki army
and subsequently merely hold out
against Britain, France and America.
On this they base the hope of getting
a general peace which would enable
them at a future time to attempt the
conquest of the world from a much
broader and more favorable base than
that from which they sprung their 1914
assault. Nothing that has happened re-
probability of this view of the possible
German policy.
Annexes so, oOO, 900 Persons.
Germany's commitment in the east
has become larger and larger. She
has practically annexed one-third of
European Russia with between 5o.00o.-
900 and $4,000. 600 persons. All these an
nexations will want watching. They
will absorb not only administrative
but military strength. They seem to
mean. distinctively not increased but
against the allies in the west.
Another thing is of importance. The
farther the German power sweeps east
ward the less easy in mind must be-
come Japan and China. At the mo-
ment there would seem to be little be-
tween Japan and China and German
militarism but geography. Germany
threatens Asia, not only across Siberia,
but across Persia. Neither Japan nor
China can like this and both are at
war with Germany.
Grave Possibilities.
In view of these facts one cannot
feel that Germany's political and mill
tary .preoccupations in the direction of
the east will grow rapidly less, In
deed. they seem to be fraught with
possibilities Of the gravest character.
Just as Germany is doing her utmost
to exploit the political and moral dis
Indignation OF Russia, so Japan may
find it not only prudent but imperative
to take active steps TO rehabilitate
PROSTATE Russia against the arrogant
and formidable German foe.
On Japan's side in such struggle
would be not only the spirit of the
Russian people, but the aspirations
toward freedom of the Poles and every
other people now, menaced by Teuton
tyranny.
Apparently only drastic contrac-
ton of Germany's overweening ambi-
ton can save her from complete ulti-
mate disaster.