New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-18
Hill 20 and Langemarck

ago that hill ~ suddenly J"iiP nv
headlines of the press and the minds OF
the world. In September, 1915, in the
great Battle of Loos certain Scottlsh
troops. acting on the left flank OF the
whole British army engaged, pressed for
ward through Loos and then, contrary to
orders. dashed up Hill 70 and pushed down
its eastern and southern slopes. AT their
feet lay Lens. German troops were already
beginning to withdraw, the heavy guns
we're going, the fate of Lens seemed sealed
R,,t there were no supports for the victors
and none came in the dismal hours that
followed, and in the end the troops who
had actually broken the German lines were
almost destroyed and the ground lost.
The tragedy of Loos, like that Of Neuve
Chapelle, was the collapse Of the British
Staff. The troops had made progress be-
yond anything the staff had prepared for
and the staff found itself unable to keep
pace with the soldier. 1t was the collapse
of Loos that cost Sir John French his com
mapd in France, and it was not until this
week that the British again mounted the
western slopes and attained the crest OF
Hill 10. Between the two dates there has
baen created q modern British army and
a new British staff. The result Is shown
in the fact that in perfect rhythm with
the artillery the infantry cleared the hill,
made good their position beyond the crest
at the edge of Cite st. Auguste, success
fully held and hold the key to Lens.
Unless the Germans shall retake the lost
position they must soon leave the French
coal city. From Avion on the south to the
eastern slopes Of Hill 10 on the north the
British have drawn a narrow loop about
the town; from the Vimy Ridge and from
Hill 10 they dominate the whole German
position. When the Germans go they will
leave only ruins. Lens is even more ruined
than Rheims. Even the reconquered coal
mines will not be available for many
months. The real advantage IS military,
not material, but it is great.
By taking Hill 10 the British have trans
formed the German position at La Bassee,
to the north, into a dangerous and ever
deepening salient. While the Germans held
Vimy Ridge and Hill 70 La Bassee was
inpregnable. SO far as a southern attack
was concerned, and the German hold upon
Messines and the white Sheet" Ridge to
the north of the salient was only less vital.
But now the foundations of both ends Of
the salient are gone, and the German hint
of a new attack upon front hitherto quiet
seems to mean the expectation Of an
assault upon La Bassee, which seems
assured.
Recall again that it was before La
Bassee that the British advance of Octo-
Der. 1914, was halted. La Bassee was to
be the pivot of a great turning movement,
swinging up from St Omer and joining
hands with the Belgians, retreating out Of
Antwerp behind the line of the Scheldt-
But at La Bassee the British encountered
the German counterstroke, and we'll
conceived offensive became at once a
despairing defensive
Turning now to the later operation, the
CAPTURE Of Iangenarck, the mind travels
back TO the last days of April, 1915, when
the Canadians, now the victors Of bill 70,
stood before Langernarck and st. Julien and
westward 10 the point before Bixschoote,
where their line joined with that of the
French Colonials. 1t was upon this French
front that the Germans launched their first
"poison gas" attack; it was across the
ground that they have just reconquered
In1L inc ITtANu ANbINANCAS " e'NN w '''A
the User Canal This retreat uncovered
the Canadians, and on the ground just re
covered they made the first great Canadian
fght, the first and very great Canadian
contribution 10 the imperial cause. And
this stand saved Ypces, saved the whole
Franco British fortune in this sector and
made impossible the German advance 20
Calais. Precisely as the Scottish troops
opened gap in the whole German line at
Hin 10, the Germans pushed wedge
through the Allied front here, but they in
turn were not supported and the bad mo
msnt passed, the British reformed on a