The Washington times., 1916-09-18
SOME SIGNIFICANT GERMAN
ADMISSIONS

his dispatches to the New York
World, conveys the frank admission
by the German staff that IL was
squarely beaten in the great joint
movement of the French and British
Sunday on the Somme lines. They
did not attempt TO palliate the fact;
they admitted that the team work Of
French and British was better than
ever beforehand II has been good
enough, all along, to constitute one
of the marvels Of the war-and that
the allies artillery conducted an
Undesirable" preliminary bonn
bardment.
"The Germans made gallant and
desperate stand" says Mr.. Won VIE
gand, "but after their trenches were
wiped out they could not Withstand
the terrific onslaught Of the French
and English divisions in overwhelm-
ing numbers on so narrow a front,
and with such tremendous punch"
Along with these admissions,
among which it is notable that the
one Of superior numbers has a good
many times been pleaded heretofore
by the Germans, goes the assurance
that the German authorities are not
yet fearful that the allies will def
nitely. break through. But, while
voicing this opinion, Mr.. Won VIE
gand says "there is, however, con-
siderable probability that the French
and English will have still other
local successes, and that the Ger
mans may fall back at a number Of
points, If for no other reason than to
straighten their lines; ," in view
of the exposed situation Of Peronne
and Combles it would not be surpris-
ing if those two points were to pass
into the hands Of the allies"
Assuredly, it would not; but the
reason is not strategic. It is simply
that those points, of the greatest
strategic Importance to the Ger.
mans, have been made practically
untenable. They are going to be
yielded, .and with them will 60 the
advantage of very important high.
way connections.
Berlin is manifestly preparing the
German people for a withdrawal OF
considerable significance, when Pc.
rome shall have to be given up. The
German transportation system has
doubtless been reorganized, farther
in the rear, in anticipation Of this
change; but the fact remains thai
the most desperate efforts have beer
made to hold Peronne, and that 9
few weeks ago the same authorize.
that now talk of Withdrawals, were
positive that Peronne could not b,
taken.
The reorganized general staff Al
Berlin is getting ready to shorter
lines and stiffen them before winter
It will be particularly necessary Il
get dug into new positions befor,
the severe. weather comes. TIL,
Germans do not possess the means o.
caring for their troops, Of clothinf
and feeding and warming them, II
any such measure as the allies do
This is a consideration that is not be
ing overlooked at Berlin. The com
ing winter is going to be one o.
horror for troops not perfectl,
equipped; for the allies intend, by al
accounts. to utilize their now per
fected preparation to keep the fight
ing going on every day. There will
be no resting periods for the benefit
Of the enemy.
It is too early to Judge to wha
extent the Germans will yield ter
ritory in order to establish their new
lines; but the series Of intimationl
that have been coming from genera
headquarters seem to point 10 a con
siderable change that will requir,
much explanation before Germany
docile as is its public opinion, will b,
quite convinced that advances to
ward the Rhine represent distin
guished German victories.