Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-01-24

uation in the west. thus modified. war
ranted the launching of q real offensive
which should aim at a decision.
In a word. n German offensive against
Saloniki which would have a real
chance OF success would. at the opening
Of h fighting season Of 1918. upset
all the allied plans and p%recipitate a
real crisis. the crisis incident to making
the decision whether to continue to
spend men and guns and transport, the
most precious element OF all, upon a
Macedonian sideshow. If the decision
might fall, and the German domination
of the Balkans would be complete, the
kaiser would reestablish his brotherin-
law and confront the world with the
accomplished fact.
The last thing in the world ] am try
ing to do is to prophesy that the Ger
mans will make their great effort for
1918 in Macedonia or in Asia. or in
both regions. What l am trying to point
out is that the weight of evidence points
in this direction. 1 expect to see the
Austro-German offensive in northern
Italy reach the Adige either before Vim
ter shuts down or in the spring. The
central powers have advanced in the
mountains now to the point where they
possess most Of the necessary ground
and the Italian position seems to me
u~ntenable. The Italians will naturally
hold 1t as long as possible, to gain time
to prepare the line of the Adige. but
the line of the Piave, in the Judgment
of military men, is no longer perma-
nently tenable, in the face of recent
Austro-Germa gains on the .Asiago
plateau.
Expects Venice to Fall.
This means that Venice will fall. 1t
means that a new strain may De put
upon allied resources in men if Italy
calls for further reinforcements. Add
to this a successful offensive i'm the
spring against Saloniki and what will
the result be? Will she allies then send
still more troops from the west to save
the Balkans. II they do. SO much the
better opening for a German offensive
in the west. so much greater the strain
upon allied transport and by SO much
more the domestic problems of food and
power in the allied countries are com
plicated. Exactly the same circum-
stances are in the picture if the Salon
Xxi blow is preceded by a winter cam.
paign against Bagdad.
II the Germans ear wait six months,
II their economic, political and indus
trial condition enables the high COM
nan to pursue a strategy purely con-
cerned with military consideration, then
it seems to me they are bound to make
81 &sAttNSNAOilld anu
in Asia, with an intensification OF pres
sure upon Italy. if they do not push her
behind the Adige before the spring
campaign opens.
Thereafter, II the allies should yield
to h obvious temptation and French
and British troops are sent to Italy and
to Saloniki, il British troops are with
drawn from Flanders for Egypt and
Palestine. then the Germans can launch
their great western offensive. Mean
time they can threaten this great blow.
using 1t as a political rather than a
military weapon. holding it over the
heads Of their western foes. and thus
possibly contributing to the discussion
of peace.
II this German peace bid fails. then
the advantage will pass for all the
period Of the war to the enemies. Of
Germany. because our reserves of. men
are wellnlght unlimited. and by the
spring Of 1919. thanks to loo, 900
American troops. Germany will be out
manned 9 the western front and We
and our allies VIII be In . position 70
launch and maintain an Offensive