Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-27
The War Situation
BY THE MILITARY EXPERT
OF THE NEW YORK TIMES.

For several days past the American
local struggle for the Be1leau woods.
This little patch of trees crowns O.
small plateau which rises, south OF
the town of Belleau, from the valley
OF the Clignon river. It's principal
value to us lay in the fact that It was
a small wedge thrust sharply into our
lines as a result Of the last Ameri-
can advance in which we took most
of the town of Belleau, although we
failed to take the woods by the same
name almost directly to the south.
This salient in our lines has thus
been cleared out. with the result that
we have obtained possession Of the
high ground which the German lines
previously enveloped, and with 1t ex-
ercise control over the valley below.
While the operation was a local one,
the section Of the German line from
Belleau to Chateau Thierry is one OF
the most important sections Of the
entire line south Of the Aisne. It Ia
this little section Of line which pre-
vents the Germans from extending
their positions along the Marine, and
consequently stands as one Of the
major guards of the road to Paris.
Another interest here lies in the fact
that from Belleau the line runs due
west on one side for distance OF
about three miles, while on the other
due south. With Bel1eau as the hinge
not only of the section of the line to
the north, but also of the Chateau
Thierry positions. it can be readily
seen that every yard that Is gained
by the Americans Is threat against
both German sections Of the line. In
other words, the American line here
runs directly at right angles to the
German line to the north, which II
ppeseat ths German m hank Sere
screened by the valley of the Clignon.
behind which obstacle the Germans
are holding fast Whether the Amer
leans propose to force the crossing
and strike at the high ground on the
other side is not yet. apparent. But
it is obvious that such a move, IL
successful, would embarrass a con-
siderable section OF the German front
and narrow far beyond its present
point the Marine salient as far north
as the Aisne.
On the Italian front matters have
not materially changed. It appears
now, however, that in their attempts
to get across the Piave the AustrianS
were more SUCCESSFUL I0bu was at uFBI
believed. Their losses In killed or
wounded were undoubtedly high. The
reports of the fighting are unanimous
to the effect that the Italian artillery
caught them as they were crossing,
and also ais they were grouped at the
ends of the pontoon bridges. and in
hicted heavy casualties. But the num-
Der of prisoners seems many times be-
low the first estimates, due, possibly,
to Geographic error in transmits
sion. In SO far as the matter of priS-
oners alone is concerned the Austrians
appear to have had somewhat the bet
ter~of 1t, possibly by $4,000 men. But
this difference must be much more than
offset by the tremendous number OF
Austrians killed and wounded. Cross
ing a river in force by a frontal move
meht Is always a most expensive
operation, SO expensive that 1t has
been seldom attempted against troops
In any way equal in numbers or In
quality. In that enterprise alone, then,
the Austrian casualties were ex-
treme1y heavy. Later, when the forces
which had crossed were penned in
with their backs to the river and
subjected to the Italian attacks. IL
was practically a slaughter. Now
that the FIRST grand move of Austria
has resulted in such q complete and
disastrous defeat, 1t will be all the
more interesting to watch for the
next move.