Evening journal., 1918-04-23
.TEUT0A DRIVE aimed
Crush ENGLAND
Berlin Papers Explain ed
"Unbroken Battle Will"
Must Be Crushed
DECISIVE ISSUE
Is FORESEEN

NEW YORK. April 25.-Coples OF Ger
man newspapers printed shortly after
he beginning OF the present German
offensive received In New York and
London bear out the brief cabled re-
ports telling how the German people
we're being assured that It was sbso-
utely necessary to make the great drive
to show the Allies that Germany could
not be conquered. and thus to bring
an early German peace" 10 is also
declared that Germany's enemies need
not comfort themselves with the idea
that this Is the German army's last
desperate effort TO win.
The Frankfurter zeitung said on
March 25:
THE enemy press pretends that VIC
Germans were forced to attack because
we could not wait any longer. It builds
hopes upon this assertion. and predicts
our collapse IN the event OF the German
attack not being carried through TO a
finish. When the English last year,
with such unparalleled sacrifices, went
on attacking for months In Flanders
lighting and bleeding for months on the
same bit OF gr0und-we doubtless said
that the want caused by the submarine
war together with the developments In
the East, was forcing our enemies into
an offensive Of despair. Aud IL was
nothing else. as experience has subse-
uently shown. We were careful to
add that an unsuccessful offensive
would never force the English 10 make
peace. because they would have lost
only one hope-not the possibility OF
defense.
Even our enemy can hardly make an
accusation against our supreme army
command out OF the fact that it Is un-
dertaking the great attack only because
It considers 70 TO be necessary IN order
10 end the war as soon as possible. OR
is It sign Of weakness that there are
still men IN the world who would rather
end the war today than tomorrow
though it be by the employment Of ex-
lreme violenco2 And especially II they
feel that they have the strength to be
able TO reach this goal2 Or Is 10 weak
ness when our army command is IN a
position to attack now without waiting
until the American auxiliary troops are
assembled in full sirength2
~Our army command never regarded
the submarine war as an independent
weapon, adequate by Itself TO produce
an early victory. While the sea war
develops successfully the army COM
mand prepared the decisive campaign
In the West-upon a basis doubly
strong since the elimination OF Russia
and the conclusion Of an economic
peace In the Easi--and now IL Is carry
ine on the new war, after the enemy
has preferred war TO peace"
Rlow Aimed at England.
The Berliner Lokal-Auzelger's mill
tary expert wrote n the issue oi
March %:
at has often been pointed out thai
Germany did everything to put an enc
10 the terrible bloodshed, but we coulC
direct attention ever anew to the facl
that It was England's unbroken will FOL
battlo which caused Englands allies
especially France, TO hold out upon the
strength OF tho supposedly inexhausti'
Bile resources OF the British empire. In
this stale Of affairs we were under the
necessity Of giving the English FIRST
OF all. a proof Of the superiority Of our
resources, and OF convincing them OF
the Impossibility Of their ever being
able TO break Germany's strength. IN
view OF this necessity It seemed desir-
able to proceed as soon as possible u
The inevitable defensiye-ofiensiye
"We were also bound to consider
That the spirit OF an army suffers when
4 stands too long at attention In face
OF the enemy. Moreover, the splendid
aggressive spirit Of our Incompatible
troops positively pressed us 10 act. Even
these considerations however did mol
lead the supreme army command as
tray, or cause it to strike a single day
sooner than all preparations were So
far advanced that this could be done
with a good conscience. Let us say ex.
pressly that all rumors about other
than purely military motives for the
timing OF our attack are false. Nont
but military reasons were considered In
taking this grave step. The day FOL
the beginning OF the attack was fixed
weeks ago. In all tranquility, and with.
out any other events influencing the
decision"
General Baron Won Ardenne said il
the Berliner Tagebiatt OF March 23
'Assuredly it was not easy for th'
German army command to give The
bienal for the commencement Of th'
greatest drama 10 the history Of th'
world, the end Of which cannot be fore
seen and the development OF which
may take weeks. But the necessity FOL
nghting Il out was absolute. The un
broken battle will OF Engand which
had promised France its own and Am
Brican help for the attainment Of un
measured war aims. compelled us &
enter upon & decisive bout against tn
prolongers OF the war. Peace Is a.
lainable only If England Is made to fee
NE superiority OF German arms and 81