New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-20

decide whether the Germans
mean TO retire 10 the Franco
Belgian frontier or stand on that Cam
brai-St. Quentin-Laon front which is
described as the Hindenburg line. This
fact is clearly disclosed in the latest
French official report, which announces
that the French troops have passed
Chauny and Ham and are moving along
the roads from Chauny to La Fere and
from Ham to st. Quentin.
Ham is ten miles west Of st. Qucn-
tin and about eight miles east of Nesle,
which was occupied by French and
British cavalry on Sunday. Chauny is
not more than six miles from La Fere
and fully twelve from Noyon. which
was occupied by the French on Sunday
night. II the French should advance at
the same rate in the next twenty-four
hours as in the last they would reach
La Fcre and be at the gates Of St.
Quentin.
But both Of these cities belong 20 the
system which is the German second
line, the Hindenburg line. II either La
Fere or St. Quentin falls, then this will
be proof positive that the German re-
treat will go beyond this second line
and in all probability will extend TO the
Franco Belgian frontier from Hrson to
Lille.
French Clear Triangle
South Of the Disc the French advance
has also pushed on at rapid rate and
cleared all the triangle between the
Oise and the Aisne west of the line
between Chauny and scissors, which
includes all the ground over which was
fought the British phase of the Battle
of the Asne in September, 1914, after
the German retreat from the Marne
In the French communique the asser-
tion is made that the French have
reached and passed the Ailette. which is
halfway between Laon and scissors.
If the Germans intend to make a
stand we may expect to hear to-day OF
the arrival Of the French at the front
of a new German position, just as We
learned that the retreat from the Marne
had stopped when the reports OF the
German resistance at the Aisne began
TO come in.
Late British reports give far less
clear statements Of the extent of the
British advance. British cavalry are
pushing out of Peronne toward lie Cat
elet and out of Bapaume toward Cam
brai. which. like ST. Quentin and La
Fere. are inside the Hindenburg line.
Vaulx-Vraucourt, mentioned in an un-
Official London report. is north OF the
Bapaume- Cambrai road and twelve
miles west Of Cambria. Ytres is south
east Of Bapaume and ten miles north
west Of lie Catelet. Both towns have
been occupied by the British.
Retreat Seems a Success
Presumably the British advance, like
the French. is approaching the posi-
tions on which the Germans must stand
if they are 10 stand a; all on the ex-
pected front
Two things remain 10 be decided by
the news of a relatively Few hours.
First, whether the Germans mean TO
stand on the hIndenburg line, and,
second. whether the retreat has been
so swift that stand can be made with
out difficulty, io, nothing Is more diff
cult in military affairs than to stop
retrograde move OF the magnitude that
has been made by the Germans. But
all signs seem 20 indicate that the re-
treat has been great success and that
the pursuit has been far behind the
withdrawing Germans.
In sum. a crisis in the German re
treat has been reached; the French are
at least within sight of the Hindenburg
line. and the next few hours will tell
the story.