The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1918-02-22
Where the Teuton is Weak.

for great feeling of encouragement
in this country over the war situa-
ton. We are told, and it may be
true, that Germany is massing tre-
mendOus man power on the western
front. We read that in consequence
OF Russia's withdrawal from fighting
Germany is able to concentrate
against the allies stupendOus
amount of men and supplies of all
kinds to direct her best brains un-
reservedly TO a most gigantic and
irresistible drive, which they have
advertised as going to occur in March.
There seems to be no doubt that
such drive is contemplated; and
there is also no doubt that it is to be
Germany's supreme effort. IT it
fails, Germany will never in this war
he able to assemble an equal array
of men and might. What should
strengthen our confidence is the in
dication we possess that should the
drive by its very desperation gain
temporary advantage, Germany
lacks the reserve strength to make
it permanent.
1t takes not men only but mate
rails to win battles; and Germany is
painfully short of materials; copper
for example; and we read OF the
stripping of churches of their bells,
houses of the roofs, interiors of their
metal Ornaments-all showing Ger
mans shortage of material. Guns
cannot be fired without cartridges
and shells and these cannot be made
without copper. Germany before
the war had gathered in vast guam
titles of this metal, but she has been
using it at rapid rate Her own
supply is inadequate to her normal
use and absolutely insignifi cant un-
der the drain of war. 1t is ceitain
that she has practically used up all
her reserve. This view IS borne out
by the fact that she no longer at
any point assumes the offensive as
she formerly did and always seems
more and more reluctant to engage
in artillery duels. No matter how
many millions of soldiers she has
they are useless without ammunition.
Witness Russia, that at one time
had under arms ten million soldiers
more than all the rest of the fight
ing nations put together, but they
had no ammunition and were of
small effect
1t is also well known that Ger
many's food supply is short and that
prices are abnormally high. The
grain fields of Ukrainia with an es-
timated store of one hundred million
bushels of wheat have been opened
up to her. But she cannot avail
herself fully of this boon, for her
transportation system is in very
bad condition. Germany must have
plentiful food for her army; and
there is no indication yet where it
is to come from.
The chiefs should know all this
very we'll; and we can understand |
therefore the reason for this cOntin- |
ual talk of peace coming from the
German side. The talk is that of a
cOnqueror; but we can suspect that
it is very largely bluff; and that
even while Boosting 80 loudly Ger
many would be very glad to consid-
er any terms that would save her
face and at the same time make the
proposed spring drive unnecessary.
Now is no time 70 be deceived or
discouraged. There is task before
us, but it is not hopeless one, and
the end is not far off. Meanwhile
let US be unremitting in our efforts
to keep our allies and our own SOL
diers supplied with all the necessit-
leg OF war, money, munitions and
food. We have what our enemies
lack and let US pour this abundance
into the struggle in order that the
victory may be absolute and that
democracy may unreservedly dictate
the terms for the unending peace of
the world.-The Mobile Register.
Word tn Mothers