The March 20, 1918 News. The Germans and the Press Getting it Wrong

So, you're picking up the Cheyenne paper before you go to work.  If you don't live in Cheyenne, maybe you're doing that in a hotel lobby, like that of the Plains Hotel in downtown Cheyenne.

Lobby of the Plains Hotel

You've been worrying about what seems likely to be a big Spring German offensive, a logical thing to worry about.  The Germans and the Russians just signed a peace treaty after all, and there should be millions of German soldiers now available for the Western Front (and millions of horses as well.

So what does the paper reveal?

The Germans are still advancing in Russia?  Geez, what could they be thinking.  They've already won there, and yet they can't seem to stop themselves. 

What a relief, you may be thinking. That should (and indeed did) tie up well over a million German soldiers.

Of course, if you live in my neck of the woods reading that the Shoshone Bonneville cutoff was set to be abandoned would be less than thrilling.  Hopefully that appeal will keep that line open.

So what does the other Cheyenne paper have to say?

Oh heck, great news. The Germans have given up plans to advance on Paris.  The anticipated big Spring offensive will be called off (and heck, they're all tied up in Russia anyway).  What a relief.

Now you can rest easy.

Right?