New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-09
The Battle of Ypres


denburg's recent boastings. The German
commander in chief assured the Kaiser
and the German people that the enemys
offensive on the West front had been
brought to standstill. In that ne was
self-deceived. The German high command
has probably moderated the possibilities
If the Franco-British offensive in 1917. 1t
has measured what might be accomplished
bv such an offensive in terms of what was
accomplished last summer in the Battle OF
the Somme.
The great Allied effort of last year was
checked. It made no fatal breaches IN the
German line, although its serious after
effects were seen this spring in the with
drawal Of the German armies from the
Novon salient That withdrawal, effected
with great skill by Hindenburg, was hailed
in Germany as the equivalent of victory
II was advertised as upsetting Allied plans
for a spring offensive and thus postponing
for months the renewal of the driving tao
tics on which the Allies must depend 70
force the German armies out of France.
But Hindenburg's retreat failed to do
what il was intended to do. 1t did not
postpone the Allied offensive of 1917.
Hardly had the Germans established them
selves in their Strengthened line, when the
british and French attacked simultane-
ouslv. the British at the northern juno
ton of the new and old lines, from the
direction of Arras, and the French at the
southern junction, from the direction OF
Scissors and Rheims. Those two often
sives were moderately successful-success-
full as local operations, in which ground
was gained and large numbers of prisoners
were captured, but disappointing in the
lorrer strategical sense. Hindenburg did
manage to stop them through costly coun-
ter attacks. In reporting that achieve
ment TO the Kaiser and the German public
he naturally magnifed it. His words gave
the impression that in the view of the
German high command the Allied offensive
of 1917 had exhausted itself.
The British attack in Belgium south of
Ypres confutes that over-optimistic view.
The force of this new blow and the I'M
usually lcng and careful preparation made
for il show that the Allies have farreach-
ing plans for this years offensive. They
are following Grants hammering tactics
They are evidently not going to give the
German armies on the Western front any
long respite from fighting, from the nerve
racking strain Of constant defence.
The elimination Of the Wytschaete
salient may not have any striking results
from the strategical point Of view. But
the operation itself displayed an energy
and smoothness Of execution which must
be extremely disheartening to Germany.
The defence in this salient was smothered
and shattered with a completeness in
startling contrast with the ragged and
poorly coordnated British assaults Of 1916
and 1915. The British armies are becom-
ing more formidable every month. They
have learned to break German lines, how
ever strong, at minimum cost to them
selves. 1t is the repetition Of the process
which Germany breads, for the morale
Of no army can be maintained indefinitely
under such punishment as the defenders of
the Wytschaete salient had to endure.
General Pershing's arrival in England
conceded with this new British success.
II Is a coincidence ominous in its sugges-
tiveness TO Berlin. Allied superiority on
the West front in numbers and munitions
already makes it possible to crush almost
any portion Of the German line chosen for
attack. And that superiority will increase
70 counterbalance il. General Pershng is
20 command the very small American
army which will be our first contribution
20 the Allied forces In France. But it will
be followed by many other contributions,
and IL German resistance continues
through 1913 and 1919 we shall probably
nave an ioiNO 90 Aoi &c Oil army 90 bicdS
Britain now has there. Allied preponder-
ance will become moro and more decisive
since Germany's reserves in men are being
used up rapidly and she has undoubtedly
passed the crest Of her military power.
The war is 10 be decided on the West
'front.', because that front is the most &C
cessible 70 US and 10 the British. The
Allies can put moro men in the field in
france than Germany can ever hope to
end there and keep there. The Allied
took Of munitions is also much ampler