New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-15
Envelopment of Rumania
Hindenburg's Mem Hope
Success Will Prolong War Few Months, Says Garvln-
Failure Will Crush Germany's Last Chance Beaten
on Somme, Teutons Slowly Near End.

keep increasing their output up to the
very end of the war. no matter now
long it may last. SO that instead OF
any lessening of their recent weight or
fire their bombardments will only be-
come still more prodigious by conparr-
son. That is one fact, but there are
others.
The Franco-British armies must in
crease more and more in relative num-
bers. They are reducing the economy
of life 70 an exact science, or a tne art.
The sacrifices are bound TO be sad in
any case, for war is war, but the
French casualties per month IN spite
of the magnificent progress OF Foch s
forces are only one-third OF what they
were some time ago.
In the article sent to The tribune
Just before the coming OF the tanks
| said that the Western Front would be
well worth watching. At that moment
no more could be said. but It is obvious
enough that when once Britain has
begun to apply TO land warfare the
technical power and inventiveness
which have created her modern feet
and thwarted the German submarines,
she is no more likely to be matched IN
military machinery than in naval ma
chinery. Ii was the Germans who chal-
lenged this sort of war, and they nave
IL.
German Morale Lowered.
What probability, then, is there that
the enemy in the West can prevent the
Allies from accelerating the speed and
broadening the wings of their advance:
The Germans will be the harder pressed
the more they give back. Their morale
must be depressed by the deadly mo-
notony of defeat. 1t has gone on Tor
three months. 1t will go on re-
morselessly for months and months
more.
To the physical hardships OF the com.
ing winter will be added detection OF
soul. sickness of heart. Human nature
must near the breaking point of strain:
We hear of Shortening the lines.
II is a vague phrase, which loses its
impressiveness when examined. 10
possible shortening of the lines in the
West can make a decisive change IN
the military situation. If the lines
are shortened, the Allies, also enjoy
ing new advantages, will be able 10
employ still larger preponderance OF
men and artillery a mile Thus, we
are coming within sight of the point
Y
will become the deadlest of dangers
70 Germany whatever Hindenburg may
or may not do.
The bearing of these facts is plain
now that the enemy's retreat has ct
last begun in way that VIII escape
no military eye. Three months ago the
invaders thought that their line
through Belgium and France could be
e. he
thought that places like Bapaume and
Peronne were for all practicable par
poses as safe from capture as they
thought Berlin.
Now the strongest system OF over
ground and underground defences they
can ever construct has been smash I'd.
The Germans have been driven from
the heights of Picardy. They have lost
position after position which they were
charged to hold TO the death. Again
and again their guns have had 10 make
a general retirement. This is a light
ing retreat, and may be stubborn
enough for many q day yet, but 1t is
retreat.
Vital Points Twenty Miles Away.
1t must soon have wider conse-
quences, when the full indirect but
none the less irresistible effect OF the
Allies strategy becomes visible. The
Allies at no very distant date will
command the whole road from Arras
by Bapaume to Peronne. Their drive
must then take more breadth and
power until it reaches Cambria and ST.
Quentin.
Twen,y more miles onward on the
present front Of attack means cutting
clean through some of the main roads
and railways on which depend the
whole present structure of the Ger