Evening star., 1917-03-25
Why the Retreat Began.

At the outset let US answer the ques-
ton: Why did the Germans retreat at
lano Simply because the British and
French by their attacks Of last summer
and fall attacks comprehended in the
affair called loosely the battle of the
Somme, penetrated so deeply into the
German first system, reckoning the
Hindenburg line as the second system
and the frontier line as the third, that
it became difficult to hold and at some
points dangerous.
before the attack of last summer the
German line from Arras to Soissons
was a wide curve, resembling the DO"
mentioned a moment ago, with the
Soissons-Arras air line as the string.
retreat the German front had been
changed into two semicircles, Two
bows. if you please, and the British
had driven wedge right into the cen
ter In doing this they had created
two salients, a narrow one between
Arras and Bapaume and wider one
between Peronne and scissors
In point of fact, the allies had cut
straight through the original German
defense lines and the Germans had
rier after another behind the breach,
as dikes are hastily erected after
break in a Mississippi river leVee These
works had none of the strength or the
original fortifcations. and the BRUSH
progress was at an increased pace as
the push went on. -
AS early as last September miiltarE
observers began to discuss the posSloii-
ity of German retirement, and some
Of nv readers may recall an article
Of mine on this subject. Falkenhayn
was said to have advised this. and his
advice was cited as explaining IN part
his removal and the coming OF Hinoeh-
burg The retreat did not come: the
Nd
the weather became bad. at a mucn
earlier date than usual. and the dis-
cussion was forgotten.
Held Back to Help Peace Drive.
We see now, however. that it was
we'll founded speculation which looked
toward the German retreat. ana we
NAV conjecture that the reasons Tor
the delay were political quite as much
as military. Thus it seems reasonable
to conclude that the Germans. already
resolved to make peace proposal,
wisely decided that the proposal woulo
be weakened if it came ilter soh-
siderable retreat Then II "ouia pe
said that they had PROPOSED peaIe pea 80 p
cause they were retrea'ihs aho 'iu'
sought to escape defeat.
Accordingly they held on, made 'her
Rumanian campaign ana tnen uS .s,,
gested peace. with their ilnes SUI t
s1most at the maximum. But when the
naace proposals had been rejected
poIitical considerations gave way 10
military. and they chose 10 retrea.-
one must also calculate that oy post
noninu the withdrawal until spring
ip%a,. were able to proceed unmolested
- the construction of still more
elaborate works at the point they hao
selected to stand on.
At the moment when the frost broke
hec2p1e i,
Tins holding up pursuit. while atmos-
nheric conditions hampered aerlal op-
seryation, the Germans began tneir re-
treat slowly at first and. nnaily. JUST
the-~oads became better. they suddenly
s1inned out of a very wide front ana De-
.an 70 withdraw rapidly ana success
fully. apparently taking their 1oes py
surprise, and thus being aple 10 aVoIo
the worst of the dangers that are 10 De
reckoned with whenever great armies
attanont TO retire from in front OF
strong and active enemy.
Rv last Sunday we had running re-
t-e.t unlike anything that has occur
;,ca the battle of the Marine in the
west we had British and French cav
s1ry nounding down the roads leading
toward the Hindenburg line. ana we
had the Germans hurrledly esacuatihS
tIilI, yes and leaving u trail OF rum be-
hind them. 1hlS 10 SeiAi 'AAe oAA
when l write.
mt nnless the Germans intend to go
hack to the Belgian frontier TINS con-
J;fjon must now change abruptly Less
1han ten miles on very wide front m
tarvanes between the allies and the
Hindeubure line. and Wednesday or
Thnrsday should see the answer to our
srst nroblem. II the Germans mean to
hold this second line, then we shall
hsva nv that time just the kind of bull
iat;ns that came from Paris and Lon
dnn when Kluck got behind the Aisne,
in September, 1914.
If the Hindenberg Line Is Held.
supposing that the Germans do make
a stand on the Hindenburg line, what is
there TO be said of the retreat? Granted
that the withdrawal is on front from
Arras to scissors. and that the new
front runs before Laon, La Fere. ST.
Onentin. Cambria and joins the old line
ea st of scissors and southeast of Arras. ,
there is little real military advantage
to be discovered for the allies. what
ever the moral advantage. This is true
because the Germans have not retired
from country having any great military
value. Nor has it any great material
value. since it does not contain large
cities or mines Of any value.
The retreat gives the French back