Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-03
COMING STRIKE .
ON WEST FRONT
Many Picked Troops Are Now
Being Rushed Through
Berlin. =
MANY NEW AER 0PLANES
Reports Indicate That Fully Five
Hundred Men Are Be-,
ing Trained.
MANY NEW ROPLANES
ny THEODORE VAN DER KLuTn.

ny THEODORE VAN DER KLUTH.
There is now only ono topic of in
tercst in Berlin and other large Ger
man cities: and it is the Forthcoming
German offensive in the west, Belief
in the possibility of ending tho war
by crushing blow against tho French
and British lines is widespread and
growing.
The visions Of forcing peace in this
manner are founded upon the chaos
in Russia, and the withdrawal Of all
the best troops from the eastern front.
For some time this process has been
conducted in pleccmeal fashion, the
fttest men from each division on the
eastern front being withdrawn and
formed into new divisions; now the
process OF removal Of whole divisions
has begun.
The transference his been accom~
plished with good deal of oTenta.
ton. and scenes of some enthusiasm
nave marked the passage through Ber-
lin OF the troops coming from east to
west.
Not only have these men been al
verified from their shortest route in
order to display them in Berlin, but
the times of their arrival and depar-
ture have been made public.
The object OF this unusual publicity
is twofold. The first end accomplished
Is the restoration of confidence among
the Berliners, who are contemplating
war winter with no great amount OF
serenity.
The second purpose is to hearten
the troops going west by displays OF
enthusiasm and confidence.
The western front has no allurine
reputation among any German soldiers.
least of all among those accustomed
to the much easier conditions on the
eastern front; and many SO trans.
ferred have made no secret OF their
uneasfness at the change.
For the Same reason great publicity
Is given to the misunderstanding made
by Count Czernin, the Austrian Pre-
mier. that Austrian troops should also
be sent to the western front Tho
promise however. Is not taken very
seriously in Berlin
Apart from the fact that Austria has
no war aims in the west, there "a "a
large body of public opinion, especial
~ In Hungary, which cleaves to the
idea that Austria is a mere German
catspaw.
Any open act likely to illustrate tina
correctness of this idea would be pecu-
ilarly unpaiatable to the Pan-Germans
themselves, who believe that the time
has not yet arrived when Germany.a
hand can safely be shown IN Austria
hoRE MEN CALLED
TO BECOME PILOTS
More omfnous for the cause of tia
allied powers than the prospect of
Austrian troops lighting along the
western line is tho very real aug,
mentation OF German aerial forces.
1T may safely be predicted that any
offensive in the west will at once res
veal a remarkable increase In thu
aerial strength of the German army.
1t is popularity believed in Berlin
that 500 men have been taken into
training as pilots In every week since
last May and that as many trained
and efficient pilots are at presene
emerging from the training camps
each week.
Airplane construction has been aug.
'"en,eo on even a moro sensational
scale and the usual mysterious hints
~ overwhelming surprises In store for
Ireat Britain are heard on every side
inese rumors may rest for the
greater part upon the blind faitn
every German cherishes In the fnyen.
tive capacity of his own race. There
Is reason to believe, however. thai
several new types OF machines haye
oeen evolved and deliberately reserved
Tor the contemplated demonstration AZ
German force
one large machine, which has been
seen very often In the neighborhood
or Johannisthal. Is reputed to be spe.
ciaiiy designed for fighting with ms
chine guns against infantry, after thu
fashion fist demonstrated to thu Ger-
mans by British airmen In the batt1a
OF Arras.
For another machine, small and yeru
swift, climbing qualities never before
developed are claimed.
INC real menace. however. lies noa
SO much in these new types as in tina
enormous amount OF fresh material
both in machines and men, which Ger.
many has been preparing for her OF.
fensive.
In Berlin It has been made clear
that the object OF the peace talk with
RUSSIA is not SO much to establish a
oasis on which peace may be declared
40 70 Keep Russia out OF action whilc
tue great blow is struck in the west
TOT the reason the German side Of
P~sNSS NEGOTIATIONS with Russia huN
neen intrusted to IIindenburg and his
military colleagues.
BELGIAN UPRISING WAS
oUELLED by GERMANS
a rising In Belgium, in the neigh.
oorhood Of Aiost. is reported to hays
oeen repressed by General Falken.
hahsen with exemplary" severity.
Tho number of persons killed IN this
anair, and those executed afterwards
Tor taking part in 1t, is being care.
rully concealed. because the total ia =
staggering one.
1t Is recorded In the Poster L1ov6
that the punishment Indicted on Bel.
CLANS by the German military authors
ties rose to 10000 last year, as against
100000 in the preceding year.
In the same period tho number Of
belgians seeking to escape and meet.
ing their death on the frontier. either
from the electrified wire or tho rifles
OF the sentries. tose to an average OF
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