Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-05-04

during tho last two years, and a GEN.
eral German retreat between the Vesle
and the Arsonne would be necessary.
We have, then, the problem of the
new offensive. Two great forces OF
allies are striking at either end of the
liindenblrg line. to which the Ger
mans have retreateu. A break at either
end would compel the Germans to re-
tire TO the French frontier. A stimuli
tAneous break at both points might
mean the development n capture of
large German forces between Scissors
n Lens. for the troops penetrating
through these breaks would be moving
in a converglng direction i'll the rear
of the German armies on that front.
This situation entirely recalls that
which existed in September, 1915, when
the British made their great attack at
Loos. coincident with the French Of
fensive in champagne; bat at this time
the allies lacked heavy artillery, the
British army was still unframed. and
the operation was made primarily to
relieve h pressure upon the defeated
Russians and only with the remote
hope of a general victory in France.
1t is worth recalling also that at the
battle of the Somlne last year the allies
were compelled to make their attack in
of the completion of their
preparations because the situation at
Verdun had become critical and the
wy . AAAOAS W A0tA IL SIStl kdl d.
tention was MOI at once directed else
where.
We may say that in the new often
siNe the allies have had the privilege
of choosing their W time and their
own places of attack, save only as the
German retreat ma or may not have
dislocated their plans on the front be-
tween scissors and ArraS. But it is we'll
to bear in mind that the Germans have
also the men and 9naterial to make an
offensive in the west if they choose.
and that we must watch for a counter
German demonstration once boil
allied armies are committed to their
great offensive.
On the other hand it is equally pos
slbie that the extent OF the British sue
cess at Arras has dislocated the whole
German plan n compelled the diver
sion to the imperiled front of the troops
that were intended to form a necessary
part OF H~indenburg's new attack. If
this proves to be the case hen the
British have by one battle and at a
single stroke wrested the offensive from
the Germans for the rest of the cam
advantage because 1T leaves it to the
allies to fix the time and place of bat
tie.
We have all Of us become dulled by
familiarity to the magnitude of the
of this war. Yet it is worth
recalling that at the present moment
not less than 5000. 600 fighting men are
engaged on the western front in what
must prove the most tremendous and
moMentous struggle of human history.
We are seeing three nations in arms
putting forth their ultimate strength,
and the battle of Arras. considerable
success as it has been for the British.
must be accepted as only the prelude
to the great summer campaign. 1t re-
mains possible that it will prove to
have been so decisive a victory tina.
German plans will have been perma-
nently d%islocated, hut. having recop.
that possibility, we must equally
recognize the possibility either of a
counter attack before Arras.
such AS the Germans made in Galicia
iast Year, or a successful operation
mania last wear.