The press MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1918. The War Situation.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16145, 25 February 1918, Page 6

The press MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1918. The War Situation.

Although we continuo to have predictions from responsible sources—the British Under-Secretary for "War, for example, and the United States Secretary for War—there is still wanting any substantial body of. positive evidence, that the Germans are preparing a great blow in the West. The tone of some of the German speeches, snch as that of the Ka'iser which is mentioned to-day, appears to suggest that some definite operation on a great scale is contemplated, and it is quit© certain that the enemy has transferred great bodies of troops from , the Eastern to the Western front. Most significant of all, however, is the tone in which Mr Lloyd George has been referring to the Allied War Council. Ho has said, in effect, that the Council has been engaged in making plans to meet the new situation. " On February 12th h O . told the House of Commons that the "over- " whelming superiority" of the Allies in the West had rapidly diminished, And ho added: s ycar ther o was no attack armch the Germans could bring either igainst the British or against the French armies which could not; in the main, be dealt with by'the reserves of sach individual army. The situation had now been completely changed bv the enormous German reinforcements and they had to consider the change in the situation. Thev had dealt with the situation where it was absolutely essential. The wholp strength of tie Allied • Britainf America, and Italy—should be made available for tho point at which m attack .would come. We did not know where the blow would come All we knew was that it was preparing, i S'gantic railway system behind^ tho German lines which might / swing the attack here or there, and it was essential that arrangements Bhould be made whereby the Allies should treat 'iftr their arnues as one in order to meet •J? the danger and menace wherever it came." .. c , •

Opinions iowev.er. on the.aoint

that Mr Lloyd George treats as established. In order to achieve substantial results the enemy would require an enormous superiority in the West, and it is in the highest degree unlikely that he can find the necessary men, while tho Balkans and Italy remain points of danger at which ho must be fully prepared, and while the Russian situation remains unsettled.

While we may feel entirely confident concerning the Western front, we can fi"d no comfort in the Russian position. For the moment it is not clear whether an effect/ve peace-treaty will be signed, or whether a despairing effort will be made to "save the Revolution," but there appears to be little doubt that within a short space of time Germany will be in control of all the territory from Poland to Petrograd. This will not —for some time at least —make Germany more formidable militarily, but it will encourage the German people to renew their hopes of an ultimate victory, and it will rehabilitate in German eyes the gospel of pan-German aggression. The plight to which Russia has been reduccd through her foolish and wicked entertainment of negotiations with tho enemy has a lesson for those who may still believe that it is possible, in present conditions, to treat with Germany on a basis of mutual good faith. German bad faith was visible at every stage of tho Brest-Litovsk negotiations. The enemy showed as littlo respect for the terms of the armistice as for its undertaking to abstain from annexation or conquest. His dealings with Poland and the Ukraine showed a complete disregard for any considerations save the forwarding of Germany's immediate interests'. Russia, in brief, has been a thorough test for German good faith, and the result of the test is that there is not a trace of that primo requisite of any serious dealings with Prussianism.