Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-23
The German Retreat.

In their first and rather belated reference to the
big events the western front the Berlin newspa-
pers explain the retreat a piece of masterful
strategy that will upset the Allied plans for
offensive and give the German lines vantage
ground whence they strike a truly decisive
blow. Much is made of the fact that this "sys-
tematic retirement is being directed by Won Hin
denburg himself, the Hindenburg who
fell back in Pennsylvania only sweep VIGOROUSLY
forward and who lin 1914 evacuated conquered
strip of Poland to strike the Russians like bolt
of lightning" The situation, according to these
sanguine observers in Berlin, is to inspire the
Fatherland with confidence and cheer.
1t would be interesting to know just how the
German people respond to this whistlng up of their
courage in the face of events which of themselves
are not likely to bestir popular enthusiasm, how
favorably they may impress the military ex-
perts of journals like the Vossiche Zeitung. I'm
doubtedly the retreat has strategic end In view.
That it will necesstate many readjustments in the
plans of the French and British offensive is alto
gether probable. That it will shorten the German
front and to that extent strengthen the German
position is obvious and 1t is easily supposable that
the troops thus drawn in will be used for counter
offensive against point Of the Allied front in
France But all this does not change the fact that
the Germans have yielded more than thousand
square miles, abandoning in a few days many times
of stupendous sacrifice at Verdun. That is a fact
which hardly can fail tell upon the morale of the
German people if not the German army, however
ingeniously it may be explained
The Berlin experts argue rather lamely in Hken-
ing the present retreat the western front to Won
Hindenburg's evacuation of a strip OF conquered
Poland in 1914. At that stage Of the war Germany
was in the lusty of her strength. Her re-
sources in food we'll in munitions and men
we're ample for the great adventure as she had
planned it. Her people we'll as the General stan
were confident that Prussian efficiency, backed by
forty years Of preparation for the very task then IN
hand would win victory at once speedy and con-
elusive The Allies on the contrary, fearfully
unprepared both in a military and economic sense.
Resources they had in abundance, but they were
almost wholly lacking the organization necessary to
use them 1t was a year and half before the En-
tente Powers we're able to produce shells and guns
in ANYTHING like the quantities required and equally
as long before they developed concerted plan of
action But now the order is reversed Germany
is in the gray of evening, her ambitious plans all
splintered, her illusions faded, her resources of
every kind approaching exhaustion. Hence 1t is
that a. German retreat at this juncture, stratgetc
though it may be, is the strategy Of one who has
despaired of victory and is seeking escape from
downright defeat
1t is hardly to be hoped that the falling back of
the German lines means a decisive Allied success
on that front in the near future 1t is possible in
deed, that Won Hindenburg may launch a counter
offensive that will be of farreaching effect. 1t is
probable In the opinion OF most competent observ-
ers that long months yet will required to
the Germans out of France and Belgium, however
we'll the Allies strike But the retreat is the
less significant as evidence of the German decline
and the ascendant fortunes of the Entente.