The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-19
Germans to Use Tanks and a
New Mysterious Gas
Against Allies
SURPRISE ATTACK
Is PROBABLE PLAN
Allies Ready for Big Blow and Await
Next Nov Of the Enemy with Assur-
ance-German Failure May Mean End
Of Prussian Militarism.

BRITISH ARMY HEADQUARTERS
IN FRANCE, Feb. 49, by The Associ-
atcd Prcss.--The great German offensive
on the western front may be expected
TO begin at any moment now and SO far
as the British front is concerned the
main thrust will be made between Ar,as
and 81 Quentin.
Tanks and "a new mysteriou, gas
viii be employed by the enemy in the
attempt to break through the allied
lines Other attacks will be delivered
farther south. These facts have become
known through German prisoners and
from information CLEANED in other ways
The plans of the German higher COM
mund are complete and after many weeks
OF intensive training of assauiting
troops they are ready 10 make the su-
premc and final effort which has been
advertised 81 widely in the past week.
Filed Marshal Won Hiudenburg and
Gen. Won Ludcndorif appear to have
realized that the old method of attack.
in which a long bombardment is en-
ployed, ~ too wcll-known 10 produce the
results desired. Accordingly the German
troops are being told that surprise attacks,
such as were used in Galicia last
summer, at Riga and again on the Isou-
10. are 20 be tried against the allies on
the western front
Much stress has been laid on the fact
that tanks and new gas are to be
used, leaving the infantry little to do but
to walk through the gaps and consoli.
date the positions captured
Despite these assurances and the intcn.
slyc training to which they have been
put the German troops are fraukiv
-keptical and are undertaking their
tasks with no enthusiasm They feel
they are going 10 be thrown into battle
10 he used as cannon fodder
II Is said Gen. Won I.udcndorH adj
dressed a body Of infantry at Laon and
asked how many mon were willing te
fight to q finish. Only five non-commis
stoned officers and privatcs stepped for
ward. The others declared their desire
for early peace by arrangement"
Officers appeared to have conviction.
that they will be able to break through
by means Of their secret" attack
The Germans will find the allied NOR
"lt NJ the hlghcSt ptCh. The allies are
ready for a big blow and await the next
move OF the German high command with
assurance. The German attack cannot
be delayed much longer. All information N
points to the fact that both German
civilians and soldiers are keyed up to a
high pitch OF nervous expectancy and
that the strain cannot endure for long
They are waiting for the attack will
icycrish hope that the high commun,
can this time make good its promise
The German troops are expected to Ggh
we'll
The coming BATTLES will perhaps be tb
most sdnsulnary OF the war, but the
viii mark the beginning of the end. fo
II the Germans do not break clea
through the allied lines and they car
not they virtually will be finished
The Emperor is putting evory ounce ,
strength into this great gamble and il
fails in the early stages il means the en-
OF Prussian militarism.
The allied forces have superiority
numbers, in men and guns and n
doubt is felt on this front as to the on
CONC