New Britain herald., 1918-03-26
Henry Clens
 Weekly Leffer
Especial to the Herald. )


 New York March 26.-The spring offensive has been suddenly opened on the West front by a wide German attack upon the British, the outcome of which at this writing cannot be measured. It is known, however, that the greatest battle in history is now in progress, and that 8. final decision on the mOm mentOus issues at stake maE- or may not soon be reached. The Ger
 mans are making a supreme effort, while the Allies are well prepared and facing the result with calm confidence.
 More and more it becomes apparent that Germany will not be able to re- tain the territory she has overrun and devastated. The enemy's recent sue cesses in the East have only been pos sible because of the feeble resistance offered; and along the West front the Allies are growing stronger daily and better able than ever to meet Ger manyS renewed efforts. American soldiers are today going into France with much greater rapidity than sup posed, so also are munitions. Our soldiers are close to the border and may be among the first to enter Ger many If this war is to be a question of economic exhaustion, Germany's end by that means cannot be very far distanct. Supplies of food and minerals which the enemy can obtain from Russia will not be of very great relief because the means of trans port are poor and Russia's own food requirements are themselves great. AS yet Germany can place no great reliance upon the submission of Russia, which is still in a state Of anarchy, and Germany is not in strong enough position to play the part of rescuer. AS a matter of fact, Ger many is in sore financial and eco homie straits. She is starved for cotton. wool oil, rubber; and financially is on the verge of bankruptcy, if not already in that abyss Contrast this with the enormous and unstrained resources of the United States, which alone are sufficient to cast the die. It is only a question of time when with the Allies holding firm, they can over whelln the Central nations. The power of Great Britain also shows no grave strain. in spits of almost four years of herculean efforts. Edgar CrammOnd, one of the most conservative British economic authorities, in a recent ad- dress showed that nOtWithstanding the vast withdra walls of 1000, 900 men for army and navy her steel output has increas sed from 2 million tons before the war to 10 millions after; coal from 247 million tons to 2S9 millions, l and agricultural output from 20S l millions sterling to 400 millions. Tn 1 addition to carrying two-thirds of 1 her own sea,-borne traffic, and one- l half the sea-borne trade of the world. 1 she also financed more than one-half 1 of the worlds trade. In the mean 1 time the cost of living in Great Bri- l tain has decreased 10 per cent. dur i ing the last six months Such is the l record, and the marvellous economic 1 strength of our principal Ally. How l long can Germany wilfully close it's
 eyes to the utter impossibility of fight l ing such a combination as that Of the l United States, Great Britain and l France. Germanys defeat Is inevit-
 able if not by blows, then by an ex- haustion that will require generations ] to overcome.
 General business is remarkably ! satisfactory, considering derangements l resulting from war. In few direC- 1 tions consumption is being curtailed l by high prices and enforced econ l onlies. There is also decided