The Washington times., 1918-04-21
New Blow Is Aimed Split British Line and Reach Dunrk Say
BRITISH HOLDING
LINES ON HILLS OF
MOUNT KENNEL

I strangIe the supply OF the armies on
{ the northern part Of the front.
To reach those functions Of the
allied communications In time Is still
the enemy's object in this second Of
fensive: TO accumulate resistance rap
idly enough to check him is the cor
responding object on our side. In
this connection II must be noted that
1 the enemy depends very much for his
success upon the superiority OF his
railway communications in this par
ticular sector
Enemy Has Advantage.
The journey by which relief can
come up for the allied armies is much
longer than the journey by which
German re-enfOrcements can be
brought. On other words. the enemy
has the advantage OF interior liues.'
lie also has the great advantage
that there is but little space here over
which. the allies can maneuver heavy
forces behind their lines because OF
the proximity OF the seacOast. It
is impossible for them to withdraw
any considerable force overseas rapid
ly. because sea communications de-
pend upon highly localized cvacuat alton
points But against this is the COM
pensating fact that the enemy has
chosen TO attack on a sector where re
endorsements from the British Islands
is much more rapid. just as REINFORCE
ments from the southern part OF the
line on the Continent is slow. Bou-
Iogne. Calais. and Dunkirk are imwe
distely in the rear Of the field OF oper-
ations. and they are on the three
shortest lines OF communication be
tween the Continent and England.
Used 30 Divisions In rs Miles.
The second German Offensive opened
early in the morning Of Tuesday.
April .. and was continuing in full
force at the time when the last dis
patches available. at the moment Of
writing. were sent Ito wit, on the
night OF Saturday. April 49,. In those
Eve days there had been thrown In by
the Germans altogether upon a front
OF some forty kilometers. or twenty
five miles. from the village or HOlle-
beke, near Npres. to the ruins Of
Givenchy. thirty Identified German di-
visions. The reader Will at once no
tice that the weight OF This attack IS
far less than that OF the main effort
from which the Germans had hoped TO
obtain a decision three weeks ago. 1t
has apparently involved so far heavy
fighting on the part OF only half the
number of men who were engaged in
the great southern action in a CORE
spending period OF time. There be-
tween sixty and sIxty-ire divisions
have appeared in the first fve days.
To understand the action so far as
1t has proceeded we must have some
Idea OF the ground over which Il is
being fought. The plain OF Flanders
IN this part Is traversed by the little
sluggish. muddy river or the Lys,
which runs in a very winding chan
mel through Mervi!le, ArmeHtIerss
and Warneton, with perfectly nat.
marshy banks on either side and
1anked by wide dyked fields. Its di-
rection Is nearly northeast.
Distinct Ridge Formed.
Out OF this plain, as you look south
eastward from the river, rises a long
lump OF land which would be insiE-
nifcant elsewhere. but which forms
a distinct ridge IN a district a. fiat
as tbs. It IS called IN this war the
Ridge Of Aubers. and lies about fve
miles from the river.
Behind il, and hidden by II. is the
large town OF Lille. which the Ger
mans occupy. At a rather greater
distance 10 the north or the Lys runs
the more considerable heights which
come around the south toward the
Lys in a ridge known as the Messines
Ridge. which upon its summit car
ries the ruins Of the villages OF
WytSchaete and MeSSines.
The double front or the two armies
ran belOw-that Is. TO the east Of the
Messines Ridge. thence on southwark
in front OF ArmentieTeS In n bulge
which included that town. and which
waS held by the British. and from
ATInentieres sOuthwestwaTd. general
ly parallel with the river. TO Nsuve
Chspelle. and the Heighborhood Of
GiVenChy.
The enemv's observation posts. looking
down from the AubeTs Ridge TO the
plain. saw before them the weakest part
Of this line SO FAR as the British were
concerned 70 Wit. the fiat ground between
Arn.enti-res and GvenChy. where there