New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-13
Allied Offensive Causes
Great Misgivings in
Fatherland
"Vorwarts" Comedies
Americas Weight
Military Critics Predict
More Hard Fighting Be-
fore Winter Sets In
By C. F. Steward.


AMSTERDAM, Aug. 12.-The latest
offensive of the Allies. which is follow
mo closely Upon the failure of the
csrman offensive, evidently is causing
,he eravest msgivings in Germany.
The latest news is referred to as "the
arst serious defeat Of the war" by the
pan.German newspaper "Deutsche lei
tung"
The "Vorwarts" heads its article
"The Critical Point" and crosses swords
with the "Deutsche Zeitung," which
declares that t will to victory of
the German soldiers was damaged by
former Foreign Minister Kuehlmann's
declaration that military decision of
the war was impossible. The "Vor-
warts" points out that the present stu
alton is the result of the rejection of
q peace by understanding and belief
in military success.
against all prophecies" it continues,
~the enemy still commands sufficient
shipping space not only to support it
economically, but also to bring an
American army of millions across the
sea- On the other hand, the Eastern
peace has not brought the expected re-
lief nor the hope for superiority in
numbers on the Western front. 1t
would do no harm if the German peo-
pe saw for once the full consequences
which might ensue from such situa-
ton. On the contrary, it would prob
ably strengthen the will of the people
to set themselves against threatening
danger"
Want Policy Changed
LET US hope" the "Deutsche lei
tung" says, that the bitter experience
Of last Thursday will bring such a re-
suit that our political policy and our
war policy shall not be worked against
in the future, but will be supported by
politicians by all possible means"
In this connection the "Vorwarts"
naturally attacks the Pan-Germans,
siding that their war aims have caused
the greatest damage abroad German
soldiers" it says, "are ready for every
thing in defence of the Fatherland, but
have the greatest dislike of the idea of
carrying on war for the realization of
pm-German Beerbank imaginations. :
In general, there is a disposition
among military critics to attribute the
attack to the Allies fear of q new Ger
man offensive and a desire on both
sides to bring about decision this
year. Most of the critics adopt the
comforting attitude that Hindenburg
has ample reserves at his disposal to
throw into the German point, while
others point that there are yet three
months Of good fighting weather. They
prophesy heavy fighting in September
and October The loss of territory is
minimized as much as possible.
Demand Reason for Defeat
The German people are reminded
that they have the whole of the occu-
PIED territory as an operating ground,
but they are nevertheless warned that
The battle is not yet finished and that
The result depends upon the relative
numbers Of the reserves of both sides.
Clamoring for an inquiry Into this
reverse" the "Weser Zeitung," of
Bremen, dealing with the present AL
lied offensive on the Somme front, says
mat to maintain the story that the
herman army was surprised by the
enemy drive is an insufficient explana-
non, inasmuch as it has been officially
stated that the attack was expected
and the German lines to the west of
Aontdidier were accordingly with
drawn.
how the general situation on the
western front strikes Holland may be
indicated by cartoon in Saturdays
amsterdam "Telegraaf" showing the
american eagle, with President Will
sons face, in deadly combat with the
russian eagle, with Emperor William 8
lace, the latter bird being in a sadly
cishevelled state.
Expects New Retreat
The military writer of the Berlin
1eisung am Mittag," in preparing the
oerman public for further retreat of
'ne herman forces, says:
II to avoid further fighting we are
.,'norawlng to new positions, thereby
showing the enemy 20 attack with great
.,''es' we are serving our aims better
'asn oy sacrificing our best men in an
yyps''nate struggle for pieces Of ground.
Ns decisive moment has not yet come.
tbat leIore, all the recent fighting and
as MI; 70 come must be regarded only
o.. mIiiestones on the road to the final
s msn. Notwithstanding the abandon
re s.. OF ground, precisely for these
~ " ~ our position has become such