The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-28
Germans Will Soon Launch 1t
Is Washington Belief.
Officials, However, Prepare for
Long, Hard Struggle.
KAISER PLAYING POLITICS
United States Has Five Divi-
siOns Ready for Action.
Americas Part in Struggle Is
Rapidly Gaining Importance.
BY srANLEY NJ. REYNoLDs.

washington, March 2S.-NeW peace
proposals have been prepared by the
German government to be put forth in
the wake of the present offensive.
4 This is the expectation widely held
in official and diplomatic quarters
here, based en- advices from neutral
countries in Europe.
How such proposals are likely to
be received is indicated in the de-
termined efforts of the administration
to quicken the movement of men and
supplies to France.
Speaking before the house inter-
and urging development of the ma
tons water power resources for
the needs of the war Secretary of the
Interior Franklin K. Lane, member of
the cabinet and close adviser of the
president, said:
1.-The news of the past few days
makes it more and more apparent that
the end of the war is far distant
The peace that the German kaiser
hopes to gain is peace by the sword"
Addressing German burghers shortly
before the present drive began, the
kaiser, in effect said:
My enemies have repealed our
offers of peace by negotiation. We
shall give them peace by the sword"
Drive a Political Move
The comment everywhere in Wash
ington is that the purposes of the
L.
That is to say, the purpose is not to
keep the territory over which German
troops are now spreading, or previ-
ousiy occupied parts of northern
france, or even, perhaps, all of Bel
GUM 1t is to stage a scene wherein
Germany, flushed with victory, might
dictate instead of negotiate the peace
she wants. So important have. been
the spoils won by the central powers
at the expense of Russia that Germany
Is prepared, many here believe, to pro-
pose liberal terms in the west if given
free hand" in her spoliation of
Russia and her advance thru southern
Russia towards India. To the United
States. to France and to Belgium, it is
thought probable Germany will pro-
pose terms, which at their face value
would seem only to sacrifice Russia.
hamstring Great Britain and block
Italy. Actually the statesmen know,
they would be terms intended to place
in the hands of the house of Hohen-
zoiiern the sceptre of world domin-
ion.
1t is with this analysis of the stu
alton before him, it is believed in
many quarters, that Secretary Lane,
generally looked upon as the most
outspoken member of the cabinet,
warned the house committee not to
expect peace terms for long time
to come.
The United States, with President
Wilson himself sounding the hopes of
the nation, entered the present year
with a full determination to bring the
war to a successful close this year.
ne consensus of opinion in official
and diplomatic circles today. after
five days of the most intense fighting
is that the winning of the war has
been greatly postponed. The sisnifi-
cant fact above all, however. is that
nowhere is there manifested any
intention OF compromising on the
purpose to win the war.
Even if the German army definite-
~ breaks thru and reaches the en-
viron; of Paris itself, the practically
universal assertion here is that the
war will go on. Statesmen declare
liberty in the world is to be saved.
For twenty-four hours military
strategists in Washington have been
expecting the crisis to come-the
point at which the spent energies of
the German drive will make possible
the ail-lmportant counter offensive.
Americas Responsibility Bigger.
From now on the part that Ameri-
cans will play is expected to grow
daily in Importance. Troops are NOV
ing forward in constantly increasing
numbers. Large numbers of Ameri-
canS-the exact number is known but
cannot be printed-are already avail
is now generally admitted some de-
tachments are already in action in
the defending line.
Within month it was declared this
afternoon in authorize tive military
quarters between five and six divi-
slons of American troops at least will
be in action in the main theater of the
western front These, it is assured
might include troops of all classes
Congress resumed Wednesday the
10 Q Ia
com1ngs of the administration in the
conduct of the war. There was little
letup in the unsparing criticism. Sar-
casm waxed caustic and in the tone
OF the many speeches was a flavor of
partisan politics.
Senator John Sharp Williams. of
Mississippi, ever to front in defense of
the administration, intimated strongly
tnat tnere was connection between
the criticisms of the Republicans and
the Wisconsin senatorial contest