Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-17
MUST STRIKE HUNS
AT0NCE AND HARD,
EXPERT DECLARES
Allies Expected TO Hurl Great
Strength Against German
Posts, Upon Messincs.
RESERVRS MAY TURN TIDE

Washington, April 1.-THE following
statement, by military expert, was
issued last night:
The news that BaiIeuI and Wytschaetc,
keypoints ut either end of Messines ridge,
have fallen into the hands Of the Germans
together with the greater part OF the ridge
tself, marks the most serious setback
our British friends have suffered IN the
northern fighting zone. Indeed, IT prob
ably means that they will be compelled
TO make "A further withdrawal of their
lines, since the enemy will be able to put
out of commission the railroad which
passes through Hazebrouck and sup
plies Ypres and the line further north.
The mere taking Of this territory may
not be vitally important in itself A good
deal depends on whether the enemy can
hold it against the determined efforta
that are certain 10 be made 10 regain 1t
as the French and American reserves are
swung into the fight Dispatches indicate
that reserves are being rushed 10 tins
part of the line from all available sources,
and that large numbers of them al
ready are engaged in the fighting
EXPECTS COUNTER At ONCE.
Unless the Allied line is 10 be forced
back toward the north. which would
Uftdlt lit vi ait ffi'o NssttNttt
and the loss Of that city 10 the enemy for
the first time since the outbreak Of the
war all possible strength must be hurled
against the enemy positions at once.
The situation, although serious, IS
far from hopeless Marshal lIaie's forces
still hold much high ground although It
is conceded that Mcssincs Ridge rs tho
strongest strategic point in all Flanders
The British and French forces have
stuhbornly resisted the enemy at every
point TO date and have taken terrible
toll Of human lives They can bc con
hdcntlv counted upon 90 take an even
heavier toll from now on Where the
enemy has been compelled 10 pay a fright
full cost for every foot of gain heretofore
he must now pay literally for every inch
he advances
Despite tho determined nature Of
the cncmys attacks, the British have
succeeded in holding up the advance from
day to- day In time, an ample number of
French and American reserves will have
arrived on this front Ia stem the
tide and we all hope. 10 hit back with
determination and force equal 10 that
shown by the Germans in their attack.
FRESH rRoors SENT IN
Ncanw hue. We must hc patient and
await the development of the Allied war
plan The enemy has repeatedly added
10 the number df divisions fighting on the
northern front Bailleul itself was finally
stormcd bv three entirely fresh divisions
Of picked troops Fighting against these
men were British forces which had borne
the hrlnt Of the fight for days Doubtless
fresh German lcgions took Wytschcatc
This affords % striking illustration
of the great advantage the Feutons have
by reason OF controlling the inside lines
IT has been ono Of their strong points
from the outset. giving greater mobility to
the movement of German troops and
supplies.
Some idea Of what it is costing the
enemy can be had from the adv1ces
received hy the State Department yes
terday. which speaks Of 25 train loads of
German wounded passing through AK
la-C 'hapcllc every night and announce
that days ago All hospitals and other
accommodations Al that place for wound
ed had been overcrowdcd.
DRIVE NEARING An END.
While this information is encouraging
As indicating the desperation and stub
bornneSS with which the British are re-
sisting the cnemy's attacks, the fact that
the German high command continues
to pay the price largely offsets 1t,
The British. backed by French and
American reserves. may be compelled
10 give more ground in this region, but
nv belief is that the drive will grad
uallv come TO an end.
We should remember, also. that it
may be wiser TO give a little additional
ground here and there from time to
time, thus dragging out the enemy's Of
fensive and continuing to infict fear
full losses everywhere he strikes.
There are increasing indications that
the Austrians are preparing to strike a
hard blow in Italy. Whenever the pres
ent German drive comes TO an end in
Flanders, we may expect blow else
where, either in Italy or at some other
r.oiDt on the western front