Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1918 — “IN PARIS BY APRIL 1,” HINDENBURG’S BOAST [ARTICLE]

“IN PARIS BY APRIL 1,” HINDENBURG’S BOAST

The Hague, Jan. 19.—(Correspondence)—Travelers from Germany bring an account of a recent conference at Berlin at which Field Marshal von Hindenburg received the editors of thirty German newspapers and discussed the food situation with them. The editors told von Hindenburg that by next May there would be no food in Germany. “My reply is,” said the field marshal, “that by April II will be in Paris.” Advertisement of what Germany is planning to do in the western front before American military power can be put into the conflict continues to be conspicuous feature of the German newspapers. “The next six months will be the deciding period,” says the Frankfurter Zeitung. “During that eminently important period the central powers will with absolute certainty have the strategic superiority, for the hopes of the entente for American help cannot possibly be fulfilled within that time. “The central powers will concentrate their whole strength on the west front for a decisive blow French soil, those fertile, flourishing fields which have already suffered so cruelly-and have drunk such rivers of blood, will be the scene of a final struggle which will far surpass the fiercest struggles of the last year. “le we do not share the lightheartedness with which the problem of American military help is often set aside, we also consider it certain that the United States cannot in the next few months increase the very great morale and economic support which they have given the allies.” The Deutsche Tages Zeitung, in an article declaring that all eyes are now focused on the west, declares that the greatest battle of the war is now about to begin there. “We must not allow the belief to arise, however," it says, “that the increase in our strength in the "west will force the French to lay down their arms or the English to run away. It may come, to this, of ( course, and Hindenburg said a year ago, ‘We are already doing it, my children.’ ”

Major von Olberg, head of the war press bureau, writes in the official Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung that the blow is now ready to fall whenever Hindenburg gives the word and it can only lead to victory. “With deep feelings of relief our troops on the western front are beginning to realize that the days of trench warfare are almost at an end,” writes von Olberg. The German fleet, too, is to participate in the coming offensive, according to the Tageblatt. “T]he German fleet relieved, of anxiety and pressure in its rear,” says this newspaper, “can now turn to the west with its full strength. The task of the British fleet, even if it is supported by its allies, will be difficult. We have full faith in the German navy, which has so often exhibited its will to victory and its capacity to fulfill its duty.”

service of these colleges, it is hoped that the supply now in the hands of the farmers can be moved into the regular channel of trade. Special efforts should J>e directed to secure this movement before wagon and sleigh transportation is interefered with by seasonal changes.”