Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-05-22
NET RESULTS OF NATIONAL LEAGUE|
BIC ALLIED DRIVE MUST SHOW GLASS;

NEW YORK, May 22t-Something
like 145 square miles of French terri
tory regained; more than 10000 pris
cners taken; from $4,000 to 100000
killed and stoppage of all plans for a
German western front offensive have
been the results achieved to date in
the great Franco British offensive.
The figures are purely estimates.
Neither the Allies or Germany have
yet issued casualty lists for this fight
ing. The front is so irregular that it
IS difficult to figure out actual acreage
wrested from the invader. But the de-
feat of TIindenburg's plans for the
summers fighting have been achieved
beyond all doubt.
The strategy of the famous linden
burg retreat was to force the British
and French to make their much-adver-
tised spring offensive over ground
chosen by the German commander and
against positions defensively prepared
IN advance.
Hindenburg selected the last few days
of winter as the time in which to
make his retreat, figuring it was too
early for the spring offensive to be-
Sin, and that the spring thaws would
800 - 4;,,,o x,,bop ,,oouapnant Of MIR
suing troops would be most difficult.
However, in order to hamper pursuit,
he laid waste every inch of ground. At
least three supplementary defense lines
to the Hindenburg line were spread
over this ground released to the French
ard British. The Germans figured these
lines would check all advances and per
nit withdrawal with a minimum OF
German losses to the Hindenburg line.
Once intrenched along the Hindenburs
line, the Germans planned a spring Of
fensive of their own on some other
front, confident in the impregnability
of this long-prepared line against any
Franco British offensive.
Rut the British and French pursuit
was far more speedy than the Germans
lad counted upon Not only did the
allies quickly swarm over the first pre-
Urinary German defense lines, but
they speeded up and started their.
spring offensive several weeks ahead
of time. Moreover, instead of directing
he attacks at the pivots to the north
and south on which Hindenburg had
hwung his retreat.
The British turned the northern point
of this Hindenburg line by capture OF
Fresnoy, Gavrelle and Oppy. To the
south. the French crumbled it away
around Cerny and Craonne. 1t is
around these northern and southern
points that the fighting is of fiercest
intensity today.
The Hindenburg line is supposed to
start somewhere about Drocourt, which
lies bidway between Lens and Douai.
A so-cal'ed switch line, presumably
prepared long ago, connects Drocourt
with the old German line around Lens.
From Droconrt the Hindenburg line
swings through Bots Bernard to Fres-
roy then south to Oppy, through Cav
ellie, Roeux. Pelves, Boiry-Notre Dame,
Remy.- Hendecourt, Riencourt, and to
Queant
This section of the Hindenburg line
has been dubbed the "Wotan line" by
the Germans, after the Nurse supreme
| God. The Wotan line is protected by
the so-called Oppy line-a preliminary
defense front between Oppy, Gavrelle
and Roeux. 1t has been penetrated at
these three points by til British.
From Queant, the Hindenburg line
runs through Beaumetz, Villers Heudi-
court, Roisel, Vermand, st. Quentin,
LaFere, Laon, Sissonne, Craonne,
across the Aisne and down to point
north of Rheims.
This section, from Queant south, has
been called the "Siegfried line" by the
Germans the Wagnerian hero. 1t
has been penetrated at Craonne and
near Rheims by the French.