Evening star., 1918-02-17

through Gen. Won MackenSen, served
twenty-four-hour ultimatum. on Ru-
mania the first of the week demanding
immediate steps toward a peace parley
with the central powers. According to
some advices the Bratiano ministry
stepped down at once rather than he
party to any par1ey with the enemy.
Should the Avresco ministry enter into
negotiations with the Teutons the fact
would not be surprising, for Rumania's
plight is trying at the present moment.
True the Rumanians may receive
great measure Of economic support
from Bessarabia, which province they
hold in almost it's entirety. and great
measure of support from the Bessara-
bian people in continuing the struggle,
but that the odds would be almost over
whelming goes without question.
Should Ruma MIA continue to fight in the
face of the present great peril its
brave struggle will go down in history
as one of the greatest examples OF ma
tional courage and fortitude.
Should Germany succeed in forcing
Rumania from the struggle the main
war problems of the central powers will
be ended in the east and attention can
then be directed solely to the Mace
donian, Italian and western fronts
Discussions of peace were revived
again during the past week by the ap-
pear ance of
Peace Discussion President Will
Is Again Revived. consrsss n
which he again made plain the stand
of the United States. He at the same
time answered the statements made by
Count Czernin. Austrian foreign min
ister, and Chancellor Won HertIing of
Germany. The American President
1 do a1- tha
ttreating with the military parties of
Germany He cited the ambiguous
speech of Chancellor Won Hertling as
ILLUSTRATION of the manner in which the
junkers would becleud the real issues.
There can be nothing but clear-cut and
tions with Germany. and the German
people must be represented in such
parleys as must come. instead of the
German militarists.
In Count Czernin'S statement the
President sees a greater spirit of COM
promise and desire to approach the
question of peace on fairer and
Squarer basis.
The Presidents remarks will do much
toward driving the. wedge between the
central powers a little deeper and will
increase the growing resentment be-
tween the Austrians and Germans even
though the governments may continue
to profess the greatest unity and
closest cooperation. Recent advices
have Indicated that the Austrian peo-
Piles are slowly. but nevertheless sure
ly. increasing their demands that the
Prussian yoke be thrown OF, and it is
believed President Wilson's recent
speech will accomplish much in the
way of crystallizing this sentiment.
Considerable interest is taken in the
forthcoming appearance of Chancellor
Won Hertling in the reichstag. for it is
"a a~al Iafa f,tN fto- a.
.manys aims and will reply specifically
to President Wilson. Much of the doubt
enshrouding his previous speech may
be cleared up, but that he in the main
will say nothing to promote peace and
will follow the aims and policies laid
down by the junkers of the nation nat
urally may be expected. particularly in
view of Ger:rany's revived interest in
and preparations for continued strug
gle on a large scale
Though adviceS telling of the growing
sufferinSs and discontent among the
German peoples continue to come, it is
generally believed that they have cor
tented themselves to further great sac
rifices the battlefield in the hope
that something may be accomplished
and that Germany may yet win. Advices
indicate that the coming summer is to
mark the last period of grace for the
militarists; and il they fail during their
proposed military ofensives. then the
militariStS themselves will be ousted
and the trusts which they have so
markedly violated.
With approximately 2.340. 600 men as
sembied on the western front, a great |
weight of heavy |
Armies Are Alert ordnance drawn |
from the east :
on "cSteAn EAoAl. ern and other /
arenas of war, and plans definitely /
framed for one of the greatest often !
sives in history, the Germans are about /
to strike. The blow will not now be /
long deferred, according to the opinion i
Of allied leaders. Weather conditions
now are more auspicious for offensive
effort. The ground has dried in many
sections, and the belligerent armies are
on the alert ready for the first stroke.
Evidently the Germans are fearful lest
the allies take the initiative, and their
air squadronS are making feverish at
In the main they have been foiled
through the extreme aiertness of the
entente squadrons, who not only have
brought nearly hundred German
machines to earth within the
past six weeks, but have conducted
observations and raids far back of the
German lines. In fact, through the air.
p.sre activities of the allies they have
- -, well determined the main Ger
dispositions and strength of en-
..:..- S2-mies.
There remains doubt in allied minds
as to where the Germans will strike.
Some of the leaders in the German
army, who may be rejecting the views
of Hindenburg and Ludendorn.
state that the Germans will make a
frontal attack with the hope of break
ng through allied lines, it being believ-
I'd that the Germans have sufficient re-
serves to insure the success Of such
tactics. IT is declared that the Ger
mans have sixty-six divisions in re-
serve, and these are being drilled in the
offensive.
Some entente military experts belisva.