New-York tribune., 1917-07-24
The Chemin des DANES


;mize or misunderstood the battle which
is now being waged along the Chemin des
DANES between the French and German
troops. Those military writer's who have
already likened it to Verdun seem TO nave
correctly diagnosed one of the most con-
siderable military operations of the year
The world was very slow in waking up to
tho real meaning of Verdun, and it was
still slower in understanding how nearly
the Germans succeeded at Verdun' ot the
present conflict one may say this; that II
has opened with no such success as marked
tho first furious onrush of the German
troops in February, 1916. In some places
tho Germans advanced rods; in some places
thew have been held squarely. Nor have
thew taken many prisoners or guns, while
at Verdun they advanced more than four
miles. taking 10000 prisoners and more
than one hundred guns in three days
Yet the thing the Germans are under
taking must be understood fully Inc
French offensive on the same ground was
q failure in the larger sense because 1t re-
suited merely in the gain of little ground
ircomnensurate with the sacrlflce OF
French life by which it had been pur-
chased Nor were $4,000 German prison
ond mora than one hundred guns counter
weights to this French loss.
The defeat of the French offensive, the
change in the High Command, the reorgan-
;zation of the General Staf-these things
brought depression to France They
brought depression to the French army and
,hov added one more strain to that almost
intolerable burden borne by Frenchmen
NOW for three years. The hope for victory
in ia. rs and 16 had gone glimmering'
The hone of victory in IT was shattered by
.bo failpro 10 reach Laon and disengage
Rheims. together with the collapse of Rus
sia and the halt in the British advance,
To-day the German General Staff is
spending men and blood without hesitation
a,d without regard, not because the posi-
t;ons il is attacking are of any great value
NOT because a successful retaking OF Cra-
orre would materially change the military
ord strategic situation, but because they
sooLirq as they sought at Verdun, to
crush the spirit of France.
Let us look the whole war situation IN
the face as it is. Russia is, temporarily
Mt least, eliminated and probably stands in
the presence of great collapse. The
limited States is still unable to send troops
in any number to the front and cannot
end sufficient numbers this year. English
s3 power has reached its maximum and
French man power is declining. For an
other eight months the battle on the West
ern front must be fought on the Allied
side by the French and by the British. II
either weakens, the whole battle is lost
And so the Germans, just as they did at
Verdun and for exactly the same reason
are using up the best Of their reserves in
desperate and terrific effort to batter in
the heart Of France. It is the supreme test
of energy and endurance which is now
going on along the Chemin des Danes. It
is one of the crucial tests in all human and
military history. This should not be mis-
taken because the gains are insignificant.
The changes in the battle front can hardly
be shown on any map, however large
the scale.
The Germans are now seeking for a de-
csion over France quite as Napoleon in
the closing hours Of Waterloo endeavored
TO have a decision as TO the British when
he put the Old Guard in. II the Germans
can beat France 10 her knees they will
have won the war. II they have correctly
gauged the spirit Of France and believe
France now is at the point of collapse,
their military case is logical and will be as
successful as it is daring.
More than year and half ago tactics
now employed on the Chemin des Danes
failed on the hills Of the Meuse though
the Germans had the advantage Of de-
fects IN French military organization and
the further benefit Of great surprise
They have neither now. The entire ques-
ton must reEt With the moral strength Of