The Detroit times., 1916-06-19

ton and are not permitting them
selves 10 be betrayed into little, fu-
tile thumpings that cannot efiectu-
ally crush the German strength; be-
cause. above all else. the allies feel
themselves strong enough 20 walt
The Germans attacked Verdun In
the hope TO draw the allies IRE.
II is the first time they have failed. -
The cornerstone OF German STRAIT
egg is TO remain on the offensive
The army which fights a defensive
fight is half beaten, in German prac-
tice. This theory OF military opera.
ton is held by all students OF the
art of war, but only the Germans
have been able 10 carry II out in
this conflict. They have been able
TO catch their opponents of center
out OF balance. According 10 their
own statements. they attacked Yer
dun in order 20 forestall the French
offensive which was bound 10 come
sometime during the summer. They
planned to use up the French re
serves Of men and guns Then they
could hurry back TO the eastern
front 20 smash the Russian. Mean
while the British front would be
contained" A sufficient number OF
troops would be held before this
front 10 check an offensive on a
large scale.
The Germans have lost the fight
at Verdun-more will be said OF this
later-but they may have succeeded
In their primary object. That was
TO prevent the French from under
taking a great offensive early in the
summer. II must necessarily be
somewhat postponed until more big
guns have been built TO replace
those used up in the Verdun hght.
and until a sufficient number OF
fresh troops have been found 10 Il
the gaps caused by the losses
Verdun. The Germans paid
mendous price for this gain in ~
but the price might have been well
paid IL the British had been induced
to enter upon an ill-considered and
poorly-backed attack. for the sole
purpose OF relieving the pressure on
the French. That would almost Ger
tainly have been followed by pc
Rod OF inaction on the western
front, which could be we'll utilized
by the energetic Teuton on some one
Of his other battle lines.
But il did not go through. The
French did not need help at Yer
dun. The Britih are calmly con-
t.nu:r 6 their Preparations for a big
t-.-7 = vAH the time comes, the
B-.'o~e 80 AXE that drive, then.
and not uz'' then. can they be &C
cusei OF h.-king"
The dierca'cnt of the Frsnch CT
william with the British policy is
easily 10 be understood, even il II
were not bedded IN reasons of race
and tradition. The British part on
the western military front has been
a rather trivial one up TO the pres
ect There is no need 70 enter
upon the reasons or 10 apply a scale
10 the tact. Today, however. after
having taken Cv-r y sector OF ap-
prcxima - li'n-eters TO relieve
the French d; The outset of the Yer
du- battle. g.. British hold IS miles
in France ~ -hcVe s5 miles they
h.ve rlasrea .1o1 ro0-be the same
more CT less-of the best fed. best
equiTpcd, huskiest fghting men the
world has ever seen. Those 1900
roo men have been practically idle
nv ccm0arison with their neighbors
~ he French line. The fghting at
vlmy Ridge UP TO May 2s was Z
more peep-show compared TO the gt
T7E'ic struggle in the valley OF the
Meuse.
"If the British had moved about
III. the Germans could not have
Us so hard" the French civil
says.
hat is perfectly true. But II the
Triton had launched an ill-consid-
cred offensive he would have played
directly into the enemys hand.
Preparation for a big drive II a
matter not OF weeks but OF months
Guns must be brought up and gun
crews trained, and officers instruct