The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-21
NOTED STRATEGIC
RETREAT PROVEN
GREAT FAILURE
Hindenburg's Boosted Plans
Defeated by French.
Wanton Destruction of Towns
Failed to Delay Allies.
FRENCH PICKED BATTLE-GROUND
Gigantic Combat Now Raging
in Three Divisions.
French Guns Dominate Every
Mile of German Line.
WantOn Destruction of Towns
Failed to Delay Allies.
FRENCH PICKED BATTLE-GROUND
French Guns Dominate Every
Mile of German Line.
BY HENRY WOOD.

With the French Armies in the
Field, April 21.-The French out
Hindenburged Hindenburg in their
1t is possible today for the first
time to reveal some of the strategy
which to date has swept the French
forces on in their greatest victory in
general offensive since the war began.
1t was the same strategic superior
ity that enabled the French to force
the Germans acceptance of the ground
previously chosen by the French as
the site of the battle of the Marine.
In the same fashion. the French
forced the Germans to accept the site
of the present battle of the Aisne-
on ground carefully selected by the
French strategists from scissors to
Auberive.
Hindenburg's strategic retreat"
was for the purpose of forcing the
French to accept battle on ground
which the German staff had chosen
before the Hindenburg line That
strategy has now failed. The French
did not choose Hindenburg's line as
the main point of their offensive.
Razing of Villages in Vain.
Likewise all the wanton destruction
in the pathway of the German retreat
all the razing of trees, farms and
villag es-done to interfere with the
allies advance. has now proved utter
ly useless as a military step and COM
pletely unjustifiable.
The battle of the Aisne is now in
its sixth day. 1t will likely continue
for weeks before a decisive moment
is reached according to the general
impression among sarttegists at the
front Along the forty odd miles of
fighting line, there are three general
sections, where the topography of the
country makes three natural divisions.
To the left is the section from Sois-
sons to Craonne, the center lies be
tween Craonne and Rheims and the
right is between Rheims and Aube-
rive.
Information obtainable here at the
front today was that these divisions
are likely to undergo notifications,
with the possibility always of great
extension of the front.
Numerous Small Battles.
Today the battle is raging every
where along the three divisions with
incredible fury. The great struggle
sub divides itself into numerous small
er engagements. They may seem
meaning less-little or big clashes
but every one of them tend to a COM
mon objective fixed long beforehand.
Scarcely an hour of the day or night
does not witness at some point either
an attack or the repulse of counter
attack. They are always indicated by
sudden rise to terrific intensity of
the ccaseless artillery roll along fronts
of one, two, three or more miles.
AlthO these battles are furious in
their intensity only the artillery is usu-
ally visible as the sign of the conflict
because the infantry fights its way
forward under the cover of forests, ra-
vines and valleys, or slips thru former
German trenches.
The ability of the French to bonn
bard without limit any point, at any
time, is what permits the absolute
certainty of an advance. Such a con-
centration of fire as the French pour
in where they want it, completely
wipes out every defensive device
known to German genius or construct
ed by German labor since 1914
Immense Preparations in Rear.
But if the actual fighting battle
front does not reveal the presence of
troops, Immediately to the rear there
is everywhere visible a titantic con-
centration of men, munitions and ma
terial. The valleys, woods and ravines
are filled with cavalry, infantry
pitched batteries, munition trains au-
tomobiles, trucks, cannon-all either
advancing. or awaiting the word to
dash to the front. There is forward
movement everywhere.