New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-21
German Retreat Leaves
, Nothing for a Spring
Offensive to Hit
Chastity Surrender
Of a Death Empire
Mutilation of ga Beautiful
Part of France" Is
Strangely Regretted

Berlin. March IS Cby wireless Via
Tuekerton, N. j., March 2O).-The Ger
man evacuation of Bapaume, Roye,
yoyon and Peronne is but a part Of
rrest strategic undertaking which
,ronises 70 revolutionize warfare on
tbs entire Western front and constitute
sns OF the most decisive moves in the
war.
with the fronts as long as they are
IN this war and with the enormous
amount Of enemy territory held by our
troops," said higher German military
authority to-day, "there is no particu-
lar military significance attached to
any especial section of the cnemy's ter
ritory. Therefore we can give up
portion Of the Western front, secure
our troops that freedom of movement
needed and end trench warfare. That
is what this really amounts to. We
are now getting the enemy out of their
trenches
Upsets Allied Plans
The giving up of this portion OF our
front puts an end TO all their finely
laid spring offensive plans. Ever since
November hundreds of thousands Of
men have been at work building
trenches, munition depots, railroads
and cable lines to prepare for the big
gsst spring offensive Of the war. Nov
a. one blow all that is gone for moth
ng. In the face of our withdrawal all
this Is useless.
-Four months work Of millions upon
millions Of dollars in value. has been
rendered vslueless, while, more impor-
ant still, all the enemy plans arc like
sise of no worth. They must make
sntirely new ones to cope with the
xw situation. This is a difficult mat
sr, entailing weeks-yes, months-of
EOrk and requiring an enormous quan
aty Of new observation. Meanwhile
me enemy is left at the mercy Of our
plans.
1T is most important 10 remember
hat the new positions we are taking
gp back Of the old front are built with
the aid Of every possible device devel-
oped by two and half years Of war
fare. The old positions were the re-
suit Of the breaking OF of the unfn-
shed offensive toward Paris. Many
portions of our positions were held
only with the greatest difficulty.
New Position Is Best Possible
-The new positions are laid out in
the best possible locations. with the
finest Of observation points and deep
concrete shelters for the battery posi-
tons. While the enemy is coming up
70 them he will be in the greatest pos
slble difficulties himself in the devss-
lated battlefield.
y regret exceedingly that this move
Is forcing a great destruction Of
beautiful part Of France. Vet the de-
struction is not so great as the dew
sststion inflicted by the British and
the French on the Somme battlefield,
and when the Entente refused our
peace proposal IL took the responsible
ny OF this destruction upon itself.
"We have destroyed nothing except
out Of military necessity. We have
saved everything we could. We did not
wish 20 destroy homes or other struct-
ures which offered no military advan-
isge 10 the enemy, but we had 20 make
battlefield out Of the territory we
we're giving up, for in IT lighting Will
how take place, and we could leave
nothing in the hands Of the enemy.
Not Germans Fault
4 know we will be accused again Of
oarbarism, but we are fighting for our
existence. We were compelled By the
refusal Of the Entente 10 make peace
10 defend ourselves against their prom
i5ed offensive. We have done every
hing we could TO avoid needless SUI
iering, but what happens IS their fsult'
not ours.
We expect the Entente 70 claim all
'ais as great victory. They VIII say
hey recaptured these cities. They
n.ye not. They have not won them by
oSfte. We are not mo- ng back De
cause Of enemy pressure, but we are
resnaping the Western front lines 80
hat we will have an aggressive initia-
iiYe.
Just in this manner Won HlndcnbuTg
i'tw back the lines IN Poland IN the
inter Of 1914 20 make possible the
srsat offensive OF 1915. and similarly
e permitted the Rumanians 20 sweep
aeross the Carpathians last summer
Lat ~s might destroy their armies
When tncy got out OF their own lines.
The Rumanisn campaign show
NnSt The possibilities % the present
movement ere. Il is the only kind OF
hfategy tnat can make possible de-
NHoa VI the Western front
Amsterdam, Msrcn y0.--b Berlin as
pslen received here quotes MAJOR Mo
ssnt former militsty critic of the
berljner Tsgebistt," as saying N ar
Nt.els written for the "Lokgl An
eyer.
Our leaders have chosen 70 create
.h entirely new situation and spare the
Nr1bls bloodshed which al assault on
sI .nemy's positions must have IN
seiVed. Our retreat from The old po-
.in0hs on The Anere and Somne fronts
uss npllihsd the projected great An.
sso-freneh spring offensive against
'a centre on the Western front.
Long strips Of territory, having a
moh Of from six % eight miles ana
aiming along the whole Of our posi,,
-.ott, have been tuned into dsad
HpSnd. 10 village o. farm remains
.Aadln2 on thir Rhcia. No road is
s.,ssbie and 10 bridge. railway Inc or
hoankDent remains. Before OUf new
sesitons runs, like a gigantic ribbon
N efnrirs Of death"
~--s=aas~-e