Omaha daily bee., 1918-07-14
Defer DRIVE
WHILE AIRING
aims IN W.
More Definite Peace Feelers
Expected at Washington;
Huns Turn Eyes to East;
Belgium Is Pawn.
BY Associated Press.

Rainy weather in northern
France has caused thorough
soaking of the ground, particu.
larly in the low lying portions
of the battle front, and per-
haps has had something to do
with the delay of the German
offensive.
1t is a month now since the
last offensive died down,
swamped by the tide of
French success north of Com
piegne, and there is no sign Of
the enemy's being ready to
strike again.
The allies have been repeatedly
pushing back the German lines little
by little at various important points.
These have gained valuable defensive
ground and. brought in thousands OF
prisoners.
Belgium Held as Pawn.
German diplomatists are again air.
ing war aims programs and engage
ing in peace discussions among them
selves. The chancellor has touched
the vital question of Belgium in the
relation OF the status of that nation
to peace, and has declared Germany
does not intend to retain that coun-
try in anv form whatever
She is holding it as pawn in the
negotiations, he says, and the Ger
man government finds it expedient to
explain this utterance in an official
statement in which it is declared that
the holder OF pawn does not intend
to keep it IF the negotiations bring
satisfactory result"
Bolshevik Rule Totters.
Germany also Is. exercised at the
situation in Russia, If the utterances
OF her newspapers go for anything.
/ The idea that the ,bolsl1eviki are re-
tanning power by thread is reflected
in advices to some of the German
organs. Fear that the German edifice
erected by the Brest-L -Litovsk tdeaty
will fall is openly expressed.
Disqlietude over the hold the
Czecho-Slovaks have secured upon
Siberia, and at the prospect of an
allied descent into interior Russia
from the north" the Murman coast
evidently being meant, is likewise
voiced.
In this connection it may be noted
it was announced in Washington YES.
terday that British reinforcenents
have been sent to Siberia to assist
the Russians and Czecho- -Slovaks il,
protecting the allied stores at V1ad-
ivostok.
Washington advices reflect the view
there that further and more definite
peace feelers may be expected. Ger
many is thought to have her eyes
turned to the east. the gaining OF
control in Russia outweighing. in her
estimation, all that she might have
been inclined to make an effort to
retain upon the western front.
100000 Men in France.
1t is announced at Washington,
that the number OF troops dispatched
to France has grown to 100000,
some 10000 men having left in the
past week. The formation of three
army corps from the troops in France.
each corps comprising from 225,000
to $4,000 men, was also made known.
The Albanian campaign although
entirely subsidiary to the operations
on the western front, has continued
to be the most active theater of the
war, SO far as extensive gains OF
ground are involved. The advance.
made mainly by the Italians with the
French on the right flank, has already
reached a maximum depth of q miles
on front of some 80 miles, straight.
ening the allied line as it runs from
the Adriatic and links up with the
Macedonian front.