The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-05

enough of the salient created at that
time to constitute grave menace to
the whole German front from Ypres
to Verdun. Should Haig retain what
remains of the salient until spring, it
would form a base for drive similar
to that conducted last summer from a
like salient at Ypres. Gains at Cam
brai such, as those made at Ypres
would put that important French
railroad town behind the British lines
and might force Hindenberg to give
up all of northern France. Cambria
is the greatest center for railroads
and other lines of communication
along the whole line from Lille to
Verdun. The whole German line be-
tween those two points constitutes a
giga ntic salient in which are massed
perhaps two million German troops.
Supplying the food, clothing and mu
nitions for this vast army is an Her
culean task even under favorable con-
ditions. Cambria has been one of the,
principal supply centers for the Ger1
man troops in northern France ever
since the territory was occupied. The
complete loss of such center and
the cutting of the lines of railroads
and the other highways which pass
thru it would make the feeding and
munitioning of the German army so
difficult as to give the British trem-
mendous advantage in the fighting all
along that part of the front. In fact
gerous as to make a considerable re-
treat absolutely necessary. The re-
cent German attack was an attempt
to drive in what remains of the Brit
ish salient and thus prevent its use as
a base of operation when spring
onens. and is convincing evidence of
how seriously the German command
views the situation.
French Brilliant Attack.
On the same day that the Germans
were trying to improve their SITUATION
at Cambria the French were deliver
ing a brilliant attack near the upper
or northwestern end of the Italian
front. The Italian front runs from
the sea coast above Venice in north-
westerly direction up the pave valley
to the mountains. From there the
line leave the river and runs almost
directly west thru a mountainous
country to a point on the Austrian
border about forty miles north OF the
Italian city of Verona. 1t is in this
mountainous country that most OF the
fighting has been going on for the past
month.
Supplies from Germany going to the
German and Austrian forces on the
Piaye river have to make a long de-
tour around the Alps. going nearly to
Vienna before they can be brought
back west to the theater of operations,
but back of the German and Austrian
I
coming directly south from Germany.
over this line men and munitions can
be brought to the front without having
to be hauled more than half as far as
by the other route In other words
the northwestern or mountainous end
of the Italian line is to All intents and
purposes not much more than half
as far from the German base OF sup
plies as that part of the Italian Line
lying in the plains between the noun
t.ins and the sea. On account of di-
rect rail lines German troops probably
| could be transferred from the noun
| famous region north of Verona to the
| French front in much less time than
! would be necessary to transfer troops
from the plains north of Venice along
! the Piave river. Facilities for AIDE
| quately supplying troops in Italy and
| for moving them quickly to the
French front when needed are of vital
| Importance to Germany. That is why
the Teutons have chosen to attack the
Italians in the mountains rather thar
down along the Piave on the plains
where the ground is much more favor
able for a drive. If the Austro-Ger-
man forces can nibble away at the
| Italian lines in the mountains unit
they have driven them back to the