South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-08-28


of house, of cards which children
build. You upset one house by
pulling out a card and down goes
the row 80 we have had Raw
Iinsou. DcbCny. Humbcrt, Man
Gin. each i'm turn hitting out and
taking ADVANTAGE of progressive
destruction OF the German cquili-
brium. and now the di-iocation
has extended to Byng'S front But
behind all these shaken German
sectors stands the HndCnhurs
lime a place Of refuge.
BY contrast there L. no such
refuge for the Germans north OF
lens. \ successful Joint attack
nv Horne aud Plumcr would al
most inevitably settle the fate of
Lille and start the German line
backward on either side of this
great city. for this il one OF the
anchorage of the French front.
The ArGonnc forest il the other.
and such retirement would mean
the surrender Of the BcIgian ~ea
coast and most Of northern
4
same time throw dozen fresh
American divisions. now ready.
against the Germans east Of
Rheims. This would cut the
wobhling center from itS eastern
anchorage. too.
The fact is. the situation has
infinite possibilities. not 60 he
measured exactly. because we do
not know all the elements. The
Gcarman il Outnumbcrcd. hut not
greatly: he j. losing more men
now and consuming his reserves
more rapidly. INC new style 10
attack. the "Cra ia" bOmbardmcnt.
which lasts bu. brief period. hut
has unbelievable consequences.
and the tank advance. which dis
poses OF the barbcd wire and ma
chine gun nests together. hold ont
the hope that we may either break
or turn the Hindcnburg line i'm due
course Of time and so keep mp
the drive right 20 tho Mouse and
the Scheldt Ludendorf's Situa-
ton il yisibIy worScuinc. He *
paying high tribute for the priVi-
Icge OF escaping with portion Of
his guns. and his troops are suf-
fCTing from lowered morale aS
wcII "a heavy losses en- retreat.
He hopes and expects 10 stand.
presently. aS JOnc stood az the
Marine. To turn round and strike
back as Jonrc did and beat down
the pursuit u viii not be enough
10 get i'm To the IIindCnburg line
To rcpul~e attacks 10y sort of
passive resistance. The tactic, oT
attack have mOmCntarily out
stretched those of defense. thanks
To the tank. tho gas shell and the
other engines Of contemporary
murder ParadoNiCal as il il. thc
truth i. 20 defend YOU must at
tack
\ year ago Allcnby was stopped
cast of Arras or the ground now
being fought over by the counter
attacks OF the Germans. Haig'S
Flanders operation came To moth
ing because the Germans devised
a flexible and elastic defense.
Modelled on the lessons Of the
first Sommc and the essential de-
tail *. this was a counter attack
when the assault had AT last pen
ctratcd the zone of defense and
arrived at the battle positions OF
the Germans, diSOrganiLed and
outnumbcrcd. although victorious.
The whole German operation is
more and more taking ON the
character OF a general retreat. and
retreat 60 the Hindcnburg line.
although there arc intermediate
positions 10 tire south ON which
the Germans NAV stand for = Ger
tain period Of Time. I'm a sense.
however. the present phase IS al
ready forC~hadowCd thrOug hout
it, course and the military ObScrN-
ers are beginning To look forward
impatiCntly Co the phase which
must follow. and must follow be-
fore very tong. ami will decide tit.
main question OF tile year. Can
uc drive the German to the
French frontier. can we continue
an attack. which. 10 continued. il
now bound To- bring dcmoralild-
ton and disaster
Copyright. 1879