New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-22

Ridge or that ridge which carries the
Chemin-des-Da north of the Aisne.
Nor can one see that any local gains here
would gravely threaten the German posi-
ton in France as this position would be
threatened, for example, could the French
take the heights south Of Laon or the hills
north of Rheims.
There is third possibility. The Italian
campaign has become one Of such great
Importance that any assistance which the
Allies could give in the way Of drawing
off German troops which might otherwise
be sent to the Venetian front would have
a real value for the Italians. The attack
in Champagne in 1915 was designed with
the hope of piercing the German lines, but
was in point of fact primarily launched
with the purpose of compelling the Ger
mans to recall troops from Russia and
prevent complete Russian disaster. And
in this it was successful.
So far, then, as one can now judge, the
present attack between the Scarpe and the
Somme is primarily designed TO take off
pressure upon Italy by compelling Ger
many to recall troops and guns either sent
or marked for sending 70 Italy. 1t is the
natural and logical military step. 1t will
then be successful, even if little ground is
gained, provided it recalls troops from
Italy or lessons the pressure upon the
Pave line.
Now, it is quite clear from the first in
formation we have that this attack before
Cambria has resulted in the largest gain
of ground-that is, in the most consider
able forward push-in the whole period of
trench warfare. When the British speak
of an advance to a depth of over five miles
on wide front they give a measure which
has not been surpassed on the Western
front, and has not even been attained, al
though something approximating this was
achieved in the great push out from Arras
along the Scarpe on Easter Monday Of
this year.
But it is much too early to attempt to
measure the probable extent of the British
advance. 1t may be that they will sue
cessfully push forward and compel gen.
eral German retirement, but such informa-
ton as we have so far indicates that while
considerable ground has been gained on
the thirty-mile front from the Scarpe to
the Somme the largest gains have been
made on a relatively restricted sector not
over six or eight miles in width, just south |
of Cambria. Unless this wedge can be (
widened it is unlikely that there will be
any real piercing of all the German defen-
sive positions, and the chances of widening
this break must be steadily reduced as the
Germans are able to bring up reserves and
new artillery about the threatened point.
In sum, then, the victory which the Brit
ish have won between the Somme and the
Scarpe-whch will probably draw its
name from Cambria, the nearest town Of
importance-represen as it now stands
the largest forward push achieved in any
offensive since the trench warfare began.
1t represents the most successful surprise
attack that we have any record of. 1t will
be one of the great tactical successes of
the war if it compels the Germans to les
sen pressure upon the Italians, but its first
phase does not permit us to believe that
it will lead Immediately to a German re-
tirement behind the Meuse and to the
French frontier. The test of the magni-
tude Of the British success in this battle
must come in the next few hours, when we
shall see whether they will be able to
widen the breach they have made or
whether, as in the case of the Battle of
Arras, their advance will be checked be-
fore some support or Switch" line.
Perhaps the most interesting detail that
we have yet learned about the attack is
the assertion that it came without artillery
preparation and as complete surprise to
the Germans. Hitherto no attack Of con-
siderable proportions on the Western front
has been launched without considerable
artillery preparation, not excepting the
German attack which opened the second
Battle Of Ypres and preceded the emission
Of gas. There is at least a suggestion