New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-18

With the French attack what has
long been awaited mas come. the begin
ming Of the campaign Of 1917. which IN
the minds OF all military observers viii
decide. even II IL does not terminate
the great war that is now nearly three
wears old. The attack has come later
than was generally expected. and IN the
end. rather as a surprise. for there had
been a growing suspicion that the
French were reserving their partieipa-
ton until German purpose was dis-
closed: in other words, until linden
burg had indicated whether ne IN
tended TO make an offensive and
whether. granted he was to make one
il would begin in the East or the west
perhaps the most interesting CIR
cumstance in the new French attack IS
the fashion in which it reproduces the
conditions of the British attack last
week. In this operation the BRUSH
struck at the northern pivot o. the
great German retreat. The French are
attacking at the southern. When the
Germans began last month to draw out
Of the lines on which they had stood
since September. 1914. and started osch
to the Hindenburg line, their northern
flank rested upon the famous NImy
Ridge. north of Arras. and all the vast
system Of entenglefnents which had
been constructed there in two years
and a half In the same way their
southern flank rested upon the Craonne
Plateau, an even stronger position,
similarly covered by intrenchments.
The British attack last week was de-
signed TO break the German line Just at
the point where the new Hindenburg
front Joined the old line at Nimy Ridge.
The French attack is designed to &C
complish exactly the same thing at the
other end Of the Craonne Ridge.
We do not know whether the French
and the British arc now moving in ac-
cordance with the plans laid long ago.
or whether the German retreat, by put
ting large devastated area between
the old front and the new all the way
from Arras 20 Scissors. compelled a
change OF plan. But it is clear that
both the French and the British are
now striking at either end Of the Him
denburg line and the French are seek
ing to carry "A position fully compar-
able to the Nimy Ridge.
Eighteen months ago we had exactly
the same situation. when the British at
tackled about Lens and the French in
Champagne. The British attack now Is
over the same ground IN part. The
French attack is some twenty-five miles
further west. But. actually. the French
and the British are again making con-
verging attacks at widely separated
points. If they succeed now in pcne-
trGting the German lines at both the
endangered points the entire German
will be in grave danger of cnve lopment,
and will have to make a rapid and prob
ably costly retreat.
Complete success by the Allies in
their present attack will not alone mean
the evacuation Of France; II may mean
a colossal disaster. Partial success
which will be comprehended in further
considerable British advances or in a
French advance would have the same
effect. although it would leave the Ger
mans an opportunity for more leis-
urely withdrawal 20 the frontier.
So far as the French attack has yet
developed. it has been less successful
than the British, and has pierced only
the first German positions in an ad-
vance Of two miles. while the British
penetrated all the German positions in
an advance of six miles. Moreover,
while the British attack continued to
gain ground for nearly week. the
French seems to have stopped, at least,
temporarily, after the first rush. This
may be due merely TO a difference in
tactics. and the French may be indulg-
ing in the so-called rhythmic attack
that is. an attack following an artillery
preparation with fixed objective, then
a pause during more artillery prepare
ton. then a new attack. But as il
stands. the French operation has not
vet carried any distinct peril TO tho
German position. so far as we can see,
while the British attack still menaces
the security of the whole German front
in France.
The most interesting point in the
French attack is the valley Of the
Aisne. where it separates the Craonne
Plateau from the hills east of Rheims:
notably Brimont. which carries one Of
the forts from which the Germans have
bombsrded the city for two years. This
is the weakest point in the whole Ger
man front in France. If the French
could penetrate this they would break
the German line and a general retreat
would be necessary. II is interesting
to recall that up this valley a French
division marched in the pursuit which
followed the Battle Of the Marine and
actually interposed between the armie'