Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1917 — GERMANY'S LAST CARD [ARTICLE]

GERMANY'S LAST CARD

Pointing out that in Germany there are two distinct parties—one that believes that the reichstag should be something more than a debating society, and one that believes the reichstag should not attempt to interfere with the plans of the war lords—the military expert of the New York Times advances the opinion that Germany’s announcement of ruthless submarine warfare is equivalent to an announcement that the war lords have persuaded the leaders of the people’s movement to allow them to play their last card. The war leaders have fbifc six months beeu insisting that in her submarines

Germany has a. powerful weapon that in the face of possible defeat She has not been using. It is slipposed that these leaders have weighed the- chancs and ' decided that while a submarine campaign such aS has been begun might bring new enemies to cope with, Germany would nevertheless probably be able td use the vessels effectively enough to overcome this and still have a fair margin of advantage. Three causes are thought to have helped the war party win the people over to this policy. First, while ’there has no doubt been much exiaggeration in the reports that Germany is starving,, and while it is plain the German resourcefulness can probably provide- enough food to keep the country in modest comfort for many years, there can be

no doubt that Germany has felt the pinch of inadequate food supplies. This may not have brought much suffering, but it has caused much discontent. Second, Germany can starve in other ways than through the depletion of food. She has a great army to clothe and house and provide with guns and ammunition. In particular, the winter fighting brought on a heavy demand for wool clothing, and Germany does not produce enough wool, even with the supply from Turkey to draw upon, to meet her normal needs. Hence the preparations for the\ winter campaign may have almost exhausted her supply. Copper, ’rubber and iron are also much in demand, and she has practically no reserve stock of copper and rubber to draw upon, and no opportunity to draw upon a foreign supply.

The third great question is that of mep. It has become evident to observers that the new German army of 2,00,0,000 men, of which many rumors have been heard, is a myth. It appears as if she had drawn her last man Into service, and that she is now forced to use those she has left to the best advantage, transferring the reserve from one threatened . part of her various lines to another. The submarine campaign will provide business for the many sailors who have

done little more than wait, and likewise draw the attention of the entente powers from Germany’s reduced land forces to her fairly adequate sea forces, thus probably affording the army opportunity for a much needed rest. The Roumanian' front has -been added to the front which Germany was already extending herself to protect, and as the; net result of the battle of the Somme, the line in France has been lengthened, when it was Germany’s •purpose to shorten it. Therefore, if Germany’s forces were inade-i quate for safety a year ago, they must at this time be reduced to such an extent as to be a source of genuine alarm. From this point of view, Germany’s position is desperate, and she may be playing her last card. But it is possible that the submarine campaign has been begun at this time with a view to giving the army time to prepare for the real Igst card. It wll be remembered that last year the attack on Verdun was begun before the winter was teally broken, the plan being to take the French unawares. The same thing may be attempted this year, in which case the British will no doubt be ready, because it has been repeatedly stated during the winter that they are preparing for the greatest advance of the ■war as soon as the weather moderates. This the Germans know, and it may be so serious as to cause them to listen to the reichstag and the voice of prudence. In this case, peace may come before ■it could have been expected had the submarine campaign never been inaugurated.