Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
Allied offensive in Progress

IN the vigor with which the French are
pursuing their attacks between the
Mouse and the NIosele in the aggressivcness
and determination of the series of onslaughts
that have resulted in the capture of Les
EparGos and the air of activity that pervades
the allied battle line in the west there is
hltle to substantiate the suggestion sent out
from London few days ago to the effect that
the long-eXpectcd spring offensive was to be
abandoned.
The visible evidence. certainly, discloses
no such intention The offensive. rather. al
ready has begun not in the form OF Il gen
eral advance along the whole line. which
modern conditions of trench warfare would
seem to render impossible OF success, but in
successive thrusts in widely separated areas.
The first Of thcse-thut of the French in
thampagne--appears not to have been worth
the heavy cost ii cntaicd, nor could the Brit
ish at Neuvc Chapelo push forward their
forces as to reap the full benefit of their vic
tory. In both eases, however, there was a
decided advance Around Ncrdun the adj
vantage attained wears Il more decisive
pect The capture Of Les Epargcs, which
dominates the plains Of the Wocvre, presents
Il serious menace to the German salient cul-
minating at ST. Mihicl The claims Of the
French War Office, even after they have been
literally discounted, Indicate degree of al
lied success that must cause serious uneasi-
ness in Berlin
Military experts are looking now for a new
British and Belgian advance in that part of
the line near the English Channel AS al
licc strategy finds revelation in events, it
would seem 10 involve ohensives in sequence,
and an attempt 10 push the British advance
beyond Ncuvc Cha )elle, so as to cndanger
German lines Of communication through Bel
gum, would seem TO he indica ted.
NJ any rate, the allies in the west are not
waiting for Russian successes in the Carpa
thianS and on the Hungarian plain 1t is
possible and. indeed, probable. that the vigor
of the western attacks is designed partially
10 reduce German assistance To the Austrian
armies resisting the Russian advance but
that does not seem To be the primary pur-
pose Of General Joffre and General French
They are looking for success and regaincd
territory within their own field.
y few months ago, when the noncxpert
observer in this country sought to visualize
the spring offensive SO generally promised
he pictured TO himself IL simultaneous adj
vance OF all the allied armies from Switzcr-
land to the sea. Looking to the future he
caught vision OF French, British and Bel
sian soldiers lcapng from their trenches
perhaps after some preliminary battcring by
artilcry-and rushing on the German hosts
As the general understanding Of what
trench warfare entails became clearer when
even the noncXpcrt began to comprehend the
advantage enjoyed by troops on the defensive
the picture so aboriously constructed faded
away Any of us could see that the attack
ing forces, If they hoped for success, must
cnormouS: outnumbcr those attacked, he
cause the first line of the offensive was prac-
ticaily certain To be annihilatcd.
This circumstance makes the course the
allies have adopted no, only wise, but neccs-
sary. They must concentrate on the point
Ia he attacked, and at the same time must
not weaken their defensive. The Dur-
pose is To break through the German lines ut
angles OF strategic Importance. That is the
hope the allies now entertain