Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-28
Teutons Strike Terrific
Blows and Hold Rich
Territory Gained De-
spite Losses.
Bv W1LLIAM PH1L1P s1MMs


PARIS, July 2S.-when General d
Nrandhuy blocked the Kaisers legion
IN their smashing drive for Dunkirh
Calais and Boulogne, he scored 70
France one OF tho biggest victories o
the FIRST year OF the groat war
The Germans even place this battli
first In Importance, and their verdict 81
this matter might wen be taken, since
they, better than anybody else, should
know Just what success there would have
meant TO them
Whatever else victory OF the I'm
perdna arms would have meant, Il would
have brought them in sight OF England
ths whole course of tho prar would havV
been changed and tho result probably
have been disastrous TO the AIliesT cause
AS It turned out General dc Maud
hugs SUCCESS completely used up Ger
nnny's initial strength CT what was lefi
of il after tho Mh1nN, heightened the
battlefront considerably and inaugurated
the strength-snpping winter campaign
In the trenches, each of these a hard
blow to the Teutonic hordes For not
onty were they thus doomed to months
OF immobillzation when time was so val
uahl1 to them, but General Joffre was
given time to reoTEanize his resources
In men and material both on and back
OF the line. now an urgent and neces-
snry thing
SECOND OFFENSIVE
Aftez the battle OF the 1larne. In early
October. the second great German Ofren-
slve began: the dash for the sea. General
Joffre began a similar movement about
the same time, his object being to turn
his opponents right flank. A series Of
EllTTlT1 fOllpNrad ENxygrNyNyhare fhav
went in their turning movement north
ward. they found tho Germans little
ahead Of them. and though at the start
Won Bulow's move seems to have been
taken for an endeavor to turn the French
left, II was now perfectly evident that
the mass descent upon Paris had been
transformed into an advance against the
Channel ports. BY the middle of October,
formidable front was presented by the
Germans clear to the North Sea and the
situation looked serious.
There are really three gates to the Chan
mel, the User River. La Brasse and
Arras, the last being considered by far the
best, since II not only opens the road to
the coast but to Paris as well. Against
the Prussians were General dUrbars
Eighth Army. the British expeditionary
force, the tattered remnants of the Bel
gian army and General de Maudhuy's
Tenth Army the last named holding the
critical point between Albert and a point
to the North of Arras. against the whole
of Won Bulow's command.
Military writer's agree the attack on
Arras was probably the critical moment
OF the terrific attempt of the Germans to
reach the Channel coast The lombard
ment of the city began October s.
while General de Haudhuy just outside
city to the eastward, was holding in check
the rapidly increasing army Of Won
Bulow. the Bavarians to the north trying
to outflank him.
The great battle for the possession of
.,rr4s Continued until October 26. the Ger
mans at one time entering the city. The
famous Prusslan Guards hammered away
1t the French, making some of the most
desperate assaults of the war. They
loped 10 slash their way through to the
coast cutting Off large slice of France
md what remained of Belgium. and with
his territory tens of thousands of prls-
oners, including the entire Belgian army
ind the whole of the British expedi-
ionary corps, not to mention seri-
,usly hamperlng communications between
France and England
ARRAs HELD.
But De Maudhuy held firm, and more:
He drove the Germans, including the
'russian Guard, from Arras. He kept
open the lines of communication and
rainload after trainload of reinforce
nents poured into the north OF France.
'he Allies owe him great debt. for his
vas one of the finest performances OF the
var.
After Arras, the Germans tried to break
Trough on the User; they tried to get
ast Dixmude, defended by the gallant
admiral Ronarch and his daredevil Bre-
on marines. La Bassee saw very stub
orn fighting, and lastly, one of the great
st engagements OF the whole war came
I Ypres with the British. in bulldog
ashton, holding virtually the whole of
he line
In subsequent battles had the Allies
cen forced back at any point, reinforce
rents We're at hand and the thing could
ave been remedled. The British victory
I Ypres. by some said to be the biggest |
attic not only OF this war. hut OF all |
me, was not OF itself decisive, since de !
had won out at Arras by Octo- |
er 26, insuring the arrival Of reserves. all |
long the line as far north as the sea, |
nd had the British given way they very |
robably would have been supported by |
'esh troops and the German advance ar
ssted before the coast was reached.