Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-26

North and south Of this stretch OF river
the Germans are beginning to drive deep
wedges into the allied line by the capture
Of rCombles and Of Bapaume to the north
and of Nesle to the south.
Measured by all past history of great
offensives in the west, the supreme crisis
Of this. the greatest or all. is at hand.
Forty-Eight Hours to Tell Story.
Within the, next. forty-eight hours the
Germans either will win their great victory
md break through the British armies or
they will be compelled to pause while their
heavy guns and munitions are brought up:
AS 1t stands in the German report OF
Monday afternoon, the northern wing OF
the German army has entered upon the old
battlefield of the Sornme and is advancing
toward the crest Of the famous Ridge,
which was the scene Of all the great fight
ing of the battle of the Somme from July
to September, 1916. On this front the
German advance from the outset has been
far slower than to the south, and Haig re-
ports counter attacks here which tempo
rariiy held up the German advance.
Further to the south the situation is
more obscure, but it is clear that the
French have entered into line and are
holding the high ground before Noyon and
northward toward the Sonme. Here there
has been a very marked withdrawal Of
affect the French position on the other
side Of the Disc and compel a withdrawal
behind the Aflette. to conform to the re-
treat to the northwest.
In sum-. the British army. with its its
French supports to the south. Is still
swineing back. the tremendous impact of
the first assaults has not yet been ex-
hausted and the German troops are still
taking ground OF tactical Importance and
moving forward. except at the center. pc
military obstacle for some twenty miles.
Rut If the Germans are not likely TO
drive the allies out Of this position py
frontal attack. their advances both to the
north and to the south threaten to turn
ths british center out Of this, the strong
eat natural obsacle along the whole battle
front.
Crisis Not weathered.
We have then to recognize. frankly. that
.ba crisis has not yet been weathered,
that there is still the possibility of great
German success. On the other hand, II
fs equally essential to recognize that up
to the present moment the British VIII VIII
KENT a lire in front of the Germans. nave
retreaRed in an orderly fashion, after IN
eicting very high casualties and have
reached ground on which all the adVah-
-tage is with them
n seems clear now that the British
were overwhelmed in the center and on
the southern flank by the opening bonn
hardment of the Germans, which sur
nassed anything known in the history
nf this war. At Verdun the French nrst
ana second lines were destroyed by the
opening bombardment. then. as the
French had no third line, the situation
was at once critical At the DunaJec
and in italy the same thing occurred
Rut in the present case the German
bombardment seems to have destroyed
three or more systems Of British de-
communications for around twenty
niles. The prodigal use of gas appears
also to have had an influence in procur-
ing the failing of British resistance.
In this situation Haig plainly adopted
the course of Joffre in the Marne cam
naien, and,t while his troops were still
unshaken, retired to, new positions.
making only rear guard stands to hold
the. Germans. In this Haig's strategy
and Joffre's had the same basic purpose.
The weight Of the German blow was
too great to be blocked at once. but
necessarily it grew weaker as the
troops wearied. the heavy guns were
left behind and by contrast the de-
tenders drew nearer to their bases.
Loss by Capture Not Serious.
Ultimately Joffre counter-attacked at
the Marne. and ultimately Haig must
counter attack. The French command
er counter-attaclxed when his troops
wefe back on the, last line ON which
they saceuld. retire ito and keep their
nank9 resting uDon Paris and verdunS