MANY REINFORCEMENTS

FROM LEONARD SPRAY. ROTTERDAM, SATURDAY NIGHT

The veil of the censorship has been closely drawn over Germany. True, the newspapers are full of polemics conveying the impression that the interest of the nation is centred in the struggle in the Prussian franchise, but that is partly camouflage. Of real Germany, that Germany which is still plotting, striving and working for world dominion, the newspapers give no hint. Nevertheless, reliable information is available and it compels the conclusion that the rulers of Germany are still concentrated on an effort to end the war by the gamble in the West, and that that effort is of a magnitude and determination dangerous to underestimate. In all secrecy, Ludendorff is proceeding with measures designed to increase the resources at his disposal for the resumption of the series of battles whose objectives still are the separation of the Allied armies, the driving of the British from the Channel ports and the destruction of France’s fighting power. Tremendous as were the initial measures, they have been widened and strengthened ever since the beginning of the offensive. I learn, for instance, that the German General Staff have made still greater demands on their allies. Austria, which since Baron Burian replaced Count Csernin is more than ever the mere vassal State of Germany, has been called upon to place more of its resources at the disposal of its masters. Though, so far as is known, no Austrian infantry are actually on the Western front, a very large number have been brought into Germany, where at present they are doing garrison and other duties in place of Germans. From the by no means inconsiderable numbers of Huns thus freed there have been weeded out all men capable of any sort of military service at the front, and it is in these ways that the constitution of some of the many new divisions now in or behind the front has been completed. In the other theatres of war, there is only left a sufficient number of Germans to keep up appearances. Especially is this the case with the Italian front, which in the past month has been depleted in order to help swell the great stream flowing towards the West. Bulgaria has also been made a minor tributary, though so far the Bulgarian soldiers, as also a certain number of Turks, are held back in the German garrisons.