Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-01
HITS WEAKEST GERMAN POINT.
American War Experts Believe Allied
Drive May Determine Issue.

Washington. Aug THE British
French assault on the German right
flank has made a profound impression
here, because IN, the judgment of many
American army officers, it IS directed
at the most vulnerable point on the
entire German front
Complete success for the allies,
sweeping the German line back from
the sea coast along the entire Belgian
coast would be an Immediate answer
to the U-boat warfare. The main North
Sea bases for U-boat operations would
be stamped out.
Behind that achievement then would
stand the possibility that the entire
German line in France could be, endan-
s<-ed by flank attack
Reports from London or the front
were still too meager last night to dis
close the full scope Of the new opera
tons Some observers here were inclin-
ed to believe, however that, unless the
drive is supplemented by naval coop
Grafton, with landing behind the
present German front, complete success
is not to be expected.
See Real Opportunity.
uC uISSGSSIth mere OQI
strongly the fact that many American
officers who have studied the situation
believe the German right flank offers
the real opportunity to bring the strug-
gle to a decisive Issue in single cam
paign.
Short of that they can foresee only
a continuous repetition of the deadly
business OF frontal attack, which in
time would wear down the German
resistance, since the allied powers
have the greater resources in men
and supplies. @
How long the wearing down process
would require no official is willing to
suggest. and 1t ie pointed out that II U
boat activity is not sharply checked
time will work strongly against the IL
lies.
Recent German operations have pro-
duced the impression among some OBJ
servers that the assault upon the right
flank was expected by the Germans
general staff. The surprise attack some
time ago upon a small sector Of the
British front. which swept the allies
| back beyond the User canal, material
| 1y strengthened that sector for the Ger
mans.
verdun Object.
In renewed German assaults upon
the verdun front observers have read
also an attempt to prevent an allied
concentration upon the right flank.
In diplomatic quarters. however, the
verdun attacks are coupled also with
the German advance in Gal'cia, to fur
nish a stage setting for the renewal
Of peace suggestions through the Ger
man and Austrian chancellors.
The possibilities Of the new offensive
! produced the suggestion today that II
the allied front could be extended to
the Dutch frontier. the Netherlande
government might join the allies. Re-
cent reports from neutral sources have
indicated that the Germans feared
some such action by their little neigh
Dor. .
In that connection IL has been noted
that numerous small German steamers
lying In Dutch waters since the out.
break Of the war have been captured
or destroyed recently while attempting
to return to Germany. and that severa,
divisions OF German troops have beer
reported massed along the Dutch from.
tier.
Basis Of Success.
Some officers strongly believe thai
a great part Of the German success
heretofore has been due to the fac
that the allies have been forced q
accept the type OF warfare which thu
| German high command elected.
When the Germans, early in the war
fell back to the Aisne and dug them.
selves in, the allies followed suit and
the opportunity for field operations wal
quickly lost. The game was mappet
out as the German star wished It x
be played.
/ There are officers who believe tina
with THE a1lies' greater forces and mort
powerful artillery they now could bs
i certain of fairly quick success Il trench
lighting could be abandoned Tor tn
shift and strategy Of 0e1d operations
Tho German, fhsse ofnces9 ~ 49,
! knows this ana - - i1tentaon 4
- - - X " ~ *