New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-01
Right Flank Weak Point

The discussion here brought out
strongly the fact that many American
officers who have studied the situation
believe the German right flank ofers
the only real opportunity to bring the
struggle to a decisive issue in a single
campaign. =,
Short of that, they can foresee only
q continuing repetition OF the deadiy
business OF frontal attack. which IN
time would wear down the German re"
sistance. since the Allied powers have
the greater resources in men and sup
niles. How long the wearing down
nrocess would require no official IS
willing to suggest, however, and II IS
nointed out that if U-boat activity IS
not sharply checked time Will WORK
strongly against the Allies.
Relieve Germans Prepared
Recent German operations have pro-
duced the impression among some oo-
eervers that the assault upon the rlght
Hsnk has been expected by the German
General staff. The surprise atacs
some time ago upon small sector o.
the British front, which swept the Al
lies hack beyond the User Canal, ma
teriailv tt, strengthened that sector for
In renewed German assaults upon the
yardun front observers have read also
an attempt to prevent an allied conee"
tration upon the right HANK
In automatic quarters, however, tne
vsrdun attacks are coupled also WIN
the German advance in Gallcla 70 Iul
nish the stage setting for the renewa'
of neace suggestions through the 1er-
man and Austrian chance!lors'
THE possibilities of the new oHensEe
,roduced the suggestion to-day that II
the Allied front could be extenaeu ~
tbe M Dutch frontier the Netherlands
government might join the Allies
Germany Watching Holland
Recent reports from neutral sources
hoya indicated that the Germans reared
some such action by their little neigh,
bor In that connection 1t Is noted tnat
numerous small German steamers lying
in Dutch waters since the outbreak 81
war have been captured or destroyed
recently while attempting to return 70
Germany and that several divisions OF
Cerman troops have been repor'ed
msssed along the Dutch frontier.
some officers strongly believe that
great mart Of the German success mere
eofore has been due to the fact that
the Allies have been forced to accept
the type of warfare which the German
high command elected. When the Ger
rnens early in the war fell back to the
Aisne and dug themselves in the. Allies
followed suit, and the opportunity Tor
field operations was quickly lost.
Enemy Maps Out the Game
The game was mapped out as the
Carman staff wished it to be played
There are officers who believe that
With the Allies greater forces ana
more powerful artillery they now could
he certain Of fairly quick success II
trench fighting could be abandoned for
the shift and strategy Of field opera
tions. The enemy, these otlcers say,
also knows this, and has no intention,
- he can help it, of permitting any
change in the battle scheme he has
forced upon his enemies.
II severe pressure is exerted on the
right flank, therefore, the German com
nanders are expected here to seek re-
lief by an assault or a series OF as
saults elsewhere along the line. Inc
only answer to such tactics would be
TO ignore enemy successes OF TINS ma
ture, and keep pressing home with
every available man or ship the drive
at the right flank