The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-10

be forescen; but it might be taken as certain that they would not balance the loss of Russia; further. the rela- tive strengths would be more in our favor in the spring than in the late summer and autumn, unless indeed we had by then gained great victory.
 In the late autumn, 1917, c. H. .. was confronted by the decisive question: Should it utilize the favorable condi- tions of the spring to strike a great blow in the west, or should it delib- erately restrict itself to the defensive, and only make subsidiary attacks, say in Macedonia or Italy?
 The quadruple alliance was only held together by the hope of a victory by the Germans.
 The Hungarian army was worn out; it had lost 1,S00,000 prison CTS; it was short of recruits. It's fight ing value was slight, though against Italy it had on the whole sufficed. If Russia actually dropped out we might hope that the army would continue equal to the task that fell to it. Whether it could spare forces for other ob- jects was doubtful.
 FEARED ATTACK BY ALLIES In 1917 we had already received an intimation from the imperial and royal government that the army could only go fighting for limited period; we might anticipate something similar in 1918. We had to take into considera- tion that, Austria-Hungary might ac- tually arrive at the end of it's military power. It was clear that its political | power would not last one hour longer | Nothing but the army held the dual | monarchy together.
 1 The Bulgarian army had sufficient recruits; it was, however. found neces sary to enroll numerous men of other | races Serbs, Greeks and Rumanians were forced to serve against their owr countries). In 1917 the e. troops had fought tolerably well; their spirit ha6 improved The communications had been put properly in order behind their ! whole front.
 | The influence of the German group headquarters and of the other German 1 commands had become more pro- nounced. It extended, however, no fur
 ther than the limits of actual direct | German command. (One of the factors ! that caused revolt in Bulgaria was 1 the dietatorial attitude of German mili'
 tary commands). The training of thu
 army as a whole was furthered by means of schools established by grouI
 headquarters. Thanks to its past work 1 the latter could anticipate the coming | struggle with some confidence. | BULGARIA GAVE HIM WORRY l I often conversed with General Cant
 shev and requested him to do his par in promoting the improvement of the Bulgarian army. In view of the events of the previous year he considered its
 position secure; it was only the mobili
 zation of the Greek army that made him anxious That he could. of course never ask for enough German store: and German troops was his chief diff
 culty. With every word he expressed the hope of a German victory in th'
 west.
 1 Bulgaria had occupied all the terri tory it wanted to keep when peac'
 came; it was sure of its gains-i
 thought no more of war, but only O
 enjoying in peace and quietness wha
 it had won. The people and the arm!
 were tired of war. Radoslavoffs gov
 ernment lost ground, agitation agains
 the government and the war began. a
 first with the object of giving othe parties a chance of feathering thei nest.
 This increased the danger of entent, influence gaining ground in Bulgaria
 danger which was all the greater il