Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-28
ALLIES STRATEGY IN WEST
German Lines Threatened PacesImportant Railways
Menaced by French Drive-Loss of Roads May Compel
Retreat of Kaisers Forces
: Bv FRANK H. SIMONDS

AT THE outset of a discussion Of the new
"A operations in the West 1t is well to bear
in mind certain facts. There is always the
possibility that any Allied drive" may turn
out to be the long-waited grand offensive
which will sweep the Germans out of France.
The actual situation of German communica-
tions is such that a 20-mile advance, either
in Artois or Champagne, would probably
compel the Germans to go back to the
frontier from Lille to Vetdun
Such a consequence is still but a remote
possibility. The most sanguine of Allied OBJ
servers has not yet ventured to suggest that
German numbers have been reduced-that IS,
that the armies actually in the field have be-
gun to diminish because there were no re-
serves to replace losses. They have only
claimed that reserves were being exhausted
rapidly and that some time next year the
armies might In turn begin to grow smaller
because there was left nothing to replace
casualties
Accordingly, there is little reason to believe
that the Germans will not be able to con-
centrate reinforcements behind the present
breaks. They are outnumbered in the West,
perhaps two to one, certainly three to two
But this is not heavy disparity in view of
the fact that they have the defensive and are
prepared and that consist of several lines,
one behind another. With this preliminary
caution it is now possible to deal directly
with the operation still in progress.
Similar to Warsaw Salient
Every one Is familiar with the main cir
cumstances of the recent Polish campaign;
the Warsaw salient is still recalled by those
who followed the campaign in the East. Now
the position of the Germans in France is
wholly comparable to that of the Russians in
Poland in the days before Warsaw fell. The
Russian position was a broad curve, resting
the north, on the fortresses of the Narew-
Bobr- -Niemen line, and, on the south, on the
Lutsk-Dubno- Rovno triangle.
The German strategy was comprehended in
two cOnverging attacks upon the extremities
of the circle. Hindenburg striking south,
Mackensen north. and both aiming at the rail-
roads far behind Warsaw. on which the Rus
SLAMS depended for their munitioning and
supplies. The operation in France is wholly
analogous. The German position from Lille
to the Argonne is a wide curve. 1t is being
attacked at the extremties and the obJec-
tives of the attacking armies are the rail-
roads behind the German centre south OF
Laon, which corresponds to the Warsaw post
ton.
The two points Of attack have been selected
with due regard to the communications be-
hind them, and also 10 the fact that they are
the only places where an attack can promise
real success. The Germans attempted first
to break through at the Bzura-R -Rawka front
and take Warsaw by frontal attack. The Al
lies made a similar effort along the Aisne. at
the Champagne highlands, a year ago. and
were promptly and permanently checked and
subsequently thrown back around soissons.
The character Of the country is such that
there is next to no chance 10 succeed in at
tack from Roye to Craonne, sc great are
the natural obstacles
Situation at Lille Unchanged