New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-25

OF the Forest or ST. GoDa1n, hoiuihs @ni'
ground thereafter until the retreat from
Noyon this spring and the subsequent
retirement from the Aisne due to the par
tial success Of the French offensive in
| April. As they stood then the Germans
rested their centre upon st. Gobain and
upon the other plateau eastward Of it and
north of the Chemin -des- Danes. They had
before them the little Athletic River as a
natural moat, but they still chung to a
certain number of villages south OF this
river. the more important Of which COW
cred the gap between the St Gobain
Forest and the eastern plateau-the gap
through which the Laon railroad and
highway pass. When the French Often
sive of April and May was terminated by
the removal of Nivelle the French were
still held up before this little group OF
villages, of which Allemand, Chavignon
and Vaudesson were the most considera-
BILE. These three villages were grouped
about an old French fort built TO COM
mand the gap north Of it This gap is
covered to the north by Laon, which is
fortified, but the fort Of Malnaison to the
south was designed to check an enemy ad-
vancing upon Paris who had already sue
ceeded in capturing Laon.
Petain's offensive Of Tuesday has re-
suited In the capture Of this fort, OF the
three villages about it, and has almost,
but not quite, succeeded in pushing the
Germans north Of the Athlete River. The
French advance has been along the rail-
road and highway toward Laon, and from
their present position they are now able
to look through the gap at Laon some ten
miles away.
But before the French can hope to
reach Laon they must reduce the German
lines on the plateau east Of the gap-that
is. the plateau north Of the Athletic River
and facing the French position along the
Chemin-des- Danes, all Of which Is now IN
French hands as q result Of Tuesdays
attack. II the French can take this pla-
teau then the German centre will be
broken and the Germans will have no good
position for many miles, because from
this highland the ground slopes down
ward to the north and does not begin to
rise again until the frontier is approached.
Actually, the French are fighting to re-
gain control of the last portion Of the
second line Of defence Of Paris. They
have been fighting to regain this territory
ever since the beginning Of the battle Of
the Aisne, about September 10, 1914.
If the French could advance on a front
before the Chemin-des-Dames and take
the plateau before them, then the Ger
mans in the st. Gobain Forest would be
outfanked and would have to retire from
position which cannot be carried by any
frontal attack because Of its great natural
strength.
So much, then, for the physical circum-
stances of the present battlefield. The
French are step nearer Laon, and
an important step, but general en-
gagement far more considerable than any
thing since last April must precede any
considerable further push toward Laon,
and it seems unlikely now that such an
effort will be made. But it Is necessary
to emphasize the extent Of the French
captures. = surrender Of more than
5000 men, including the commanders Of
three regiments, and the capture Of guns
and material are very striking indication
Of the fashion In which German morale Ii
breaking down and point toward a very
considerable disintegration In the cam
paign Of 1918. II is one moro blow Of
which there have been so many in the last
twelve months. an Of which have disclosed
the growing readiness Of the Germans t.
surrender and the failing Of German
moral and material strength.
We know now that following tho checl
at the Aisne last spring there was some
very grave temporary disorder in tn,
French army, and that when Petain tool
command the situation was moro seriou,
than at any time since the outbreak Of
the war so far as the discipline Of tn,
French army was concerned. It was be
cors. ~ this fact that the Germans m ed,