New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
The Second Battle of ATas

Perhaps the best parallel for the des-
pera,e fighting now going forward before
Arras is found in the German attack upon
vcr5un in February, 1916. At that time
Il will be recalled, the Germans in five days
forced their way through all the perma-
nent lines Of the French defence. captdred
Fort Douaumont and took root on the
Douaumont plateau. After a period OF
characterization and uncertainty, the
French decided to defend Verdun. Bal
fourier brought up the Twentieth Army
Corps and counter attacked, and his coun-
ter attacks covered the period in which
rev permanent line was put in. All this
was done under the direction Of General
petain. who was subsequently officially
commended for having restored perilous
situation.
In the case Of Arras the situation is
mute the same. In the attack Of April
the British penetrated and pierced all Of
the first permanent system of the Germans
ovor q dcpth Of four miles from the north
ern extremity Of the Vimy Ridge to Croi-
stiles. southeast Of Arras, that is, on
front of about a dozen miles They also
,,onetra+ed and pierced a reserve line Of
the Germans, the so-called "Oppy line
which extended from the outskirts of Lens
southwark to point near Croisilles.
They did not. however. entirely overrun
this line. portions Of which still remain in
German hands.
1t was and remains the general belief
that behind these two lines the Germans
had constructed. or were constructing,
third line. which has been described as the
Wotan switch" line This line extends
from eastward of Lens, south through the
villages Of Drocourt and Queant, joining
ND at the latter with the main line on
which the Germans had expected to stand
In general it was parallel with and about
three miles east Of the Copy line
The theory Of what is now going on that
seems most satisfactory is that the Ger
mans have not yet completed the Wotan
line. and that they are now counter at
lacking for the purpose Of delaying the
British advance until this line is COM
pleted. just as the French counter at
tackled before Verdun until they had put
in the line which ultimately held the Ger
Aman efforts to take Verdun with a rush.
On no other ground is it possible now
70 explain these German counter attacks
We know that at the Battle Of the Somme
the Germans promptly abandoned the
counter attack, and we have the testimony
F Of their generals that this was done be-
+ cause Of the great loss suffered in the first
counter attacks But at the Somme there
was no penetration by the British of the
complete German system, as at Arras, and
. the Germans were therefore able. behind a
. line which still held, to multiply their rear
ward defences. From time TO time under
pressure they gave up a portion Of their
line. but they were always found in a
strong line somewhat behind this as soon
as the British patrols pushed out.
II is clear that the British have resumed
their offensive with the idea of reaching
and penetrating the Wotan line 1t is clear
that The Germans are endeavoring to post
pone as long as possible the arrival Of the
British at what seems to-day to be the last
German line Of defence. To do this they
are sacrificing thousands and thousands of
men. As far as the British are concerned
these tactics admirably satisfy them, be-
cause the British purpose is not primarily
70 capture ground, but 20 pound the Ger
mans, to multiplythe German casualties and
thus 70 accomplish the work of attrition.
Going back for moment TO Verdun, II
will be remembered that the Germans at
that time said with perfect justice that
while they had failed 10 take Verdun they
had compelled the French TO use at Yer
dun the reserves and the line troops which
the French had purposed TO use later in a
general offensive. They charged that they
had prevented this offensive, and this
proved to be untrue, as the Battle Of the
somme showed; but had the French been
able TO use at the Somme the troops which
were consumed at VsrduD the Sourme Of