Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-20
GRANTS POLICY SEEN
IN ALLIES CAMPAIGN
Battles in Western Theatre of War
Indicate Intention of Wearing
Down Germany by "Attrition,"
Expert Declares.
Rv FRANK II. s1MoNns


T1ARLY in the war there was attributed
IL to General Joffre statement which
caught tho fancy of the world, but at the
time carried very little enlightenment.
Asked IL the French offensive had begun
seriously he had replied, mo, | Just
nibbling." But in March and April the word
came to have a far more serious and sin
lister connotation than at first Indeed, It
seems now, to the European critics, TO mean
precisely what Grant described "attri-
ton" Grants policy had been from 1864
TO the end, as he described It, ITO hammer
continuously against the armed force of the
enemy and his resources until by mere at
triton, II in no other way" the South
should be subdued.
An examination Of the actions in the
Champagne, at Neuve Chapele, has salts
fed ITlaire Belloc, the most eminent of
British war critics, that allied strategy in
the west is now undertaking policy of at
triton which every American must neces-
sariy associate with the methods of the
greatest of the generals of the North.
To be successful policy of attrtion pre-
supposcs n superiority Of numbers with the
general taking the offensive. This the
French, with their British and Belgian al
lies, have. French official reports continue
to place the German strength in the west
at AZ corps, or substantially 100000 men.
But the strength of the French, Belgian and
British with the reserve formations and
troops in the depots, cannot be less than
100000, and is bound TO grow as the Brit
ish contingcnts arrive.
Germans Lack Numbers
The theory of Bclloc, sustained by much
evidence is that the Germans now lack the
numbers sufficient to maintain reserve
equal to that of the Allies at all points.
Thus, when the French made their great
attack i'm the Champagne in February and
March German troops were presently found
here which had been before the British
about La Bassee n few days earlier. On tho
theory that the Germans had weakened their
line in Flanders to support their troops in
Champagne, the British attacked at Neuve
Chapee and won considerable victory,
despite mismanagement.
Again. and later n violent French often
sive having developed about the ST. Mihiel
salient and German reserves having been
called up, new French offensives in Alsace
and about Arras won material successes.
All this tends to support the Belloc theory,
the theory of British and French observers
generally that German reserves are inferior
in number to the French and British, and
to meet local attack the Germans are thus
compelled to weaken their whole battle
front
The theory of attrtion, of Joffres nib
bling" is disclosed to Belloc in the opera
tions at Ncuve Chapelle First, there is an
enormous and measuraby secret concentra-
tion Of artillery at the point selected for
attack Then a tremendous bombardment,
which silences the opposing artillery and
destroys the enemys trenches. Under cover
of this artillery and before tho enemy has
recovered from the storm there is a general
advance, and the enemys trenches are oC-
cupied and organized to resist counter
attack.