Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-03
Strategy IS THAT
OF ONE DEFEATED
Hindenburg Using Tactics Pur-
sued by Beaten Generals
of All Time.
COVERING UP HIS RETREAT
Retirement Not Voluntary. but
Result of Vigorous Pres
sure of Allies. :
COVERING UP HIS RETREAT

LONDON. June 2.-"Ficld Marshal
Won ilindenburg's tactics are those of
all defeated generals Of all time. says
General Sir Moor Creagh. v. c., one
OF the foremost military experts in
England. in analyzing the situation on
the western front. LAS can be seen.
it is the strategy of Ii~indenburg to
cover up his retreat by cou~nterattacks
vigorously driven home
Allied generals estimate that at least
100000 seasoned German troops are
opposing the AnSlo-French armies be-
tween the Belgian border and
the Ncrdun sector.
General CrcaSh's analysis continues:
When We note the systematic re-
tirement of the Germans. not in re-
sponse to their volitioIi. but before our
vigorous pressure. and when We note
with what losses in men and guns this
retirement is accompanied. we have
considerable cause for doubling wheth-
er liindenburg knows TO ten miles
where his great stand will be made,
for stand he will have to make. wheth-
cr he likes it or not, If he is to avoid
great disaster.
These tactics lose him many men
and do not stay the allied advance
for long, but without them his army
would get into hopeless trouble. and
we must expect them to he made CON-
stantly and Systematically. 1t is q
great art to know when to break eft
an engagement. and there are abund-
ant signs OF characterization by Him
denburE's corps commanders other
wise the British and French captures
of guns and men would not have been
nearly so considerable.
| MUST 81: HUMBLING
TO GERMAN PRIDE
The strategy of Field Marshal HaiG
and General Nivelle is much to lie
commended. The German field mar
shal may propose. but they dispose
with a lack Of reverence for his sup
posititious lire which must be very
humblinE to German pride.
Whatever IIindenburg's views may
be as to the propriety of accepting an
discriminating battle, he must fight for
Douai and Laon tooth and nail. Once
they go. tho two and a half years
German hold on France receives its
deathblow There Is more profit. then,
In watching the steps by which we
creep to these points than in seeking
to puzzle out where the H~indenburs
line bsgins aud ends.
The battle of the Somme and the
battle of Arras and the battle OF
Rheims have proved that there is no
place where the footsore and weary
German may rest. and that. given an
Uninterrupted flow OF reserves and
munitions, it is a mathematical GER
tainty that we shall get them first out
OF France and then out OF Belgium.
Our progress may be slow at times and
great demands may have to be made
on our patience. but in the end the
task to which the allies have laid their
hands will not he beyond our achieve
ment.
II was speaking the other day to
one of the allied generals. and asked
him his candid opinion about the allied
advance. We have done magnihcentIy.'
he replied. for the weather has been
all against us. II anything. we have
lone better than we ever anticipated.
Everybody at the front is perfectly
satisfied. But II must not be forgotten
That we have TO beat an army of over
100000 men and that is not done in
a day. Still. wait three months and
see what A magical change has come
over the situation
"Whcn ] mentioned the much-adver-
fused Hindcnhurg line 10 him he smiled.
The H~indcnburS line he replied. will,
more and more I've found not i'm CON.
tact with ours. hut always progress
ing Backward"