New-York tribune., 1918-08-05

length of time. They covered about
the same distance.
But Lee was more fortunate than
Ludendorff. The former stood on
the defensive for week before
crossing the Potomac. Meade didn't
attack, although he had superior
forces. Ludendorff's attempt to
stand on "new lines" between the
Vesle and the Ourcq was a complete
failure. He couldn't hold them, and
in it's last stages his retirement has
become a demoralized and anxious
push for safety.
Those who describe Ludendorff's
retreat as an admirably conduct
ed military operation leave many
things unexplained. 1t is hard to
escape from the spell Of the German
General Staff's prestige, fortified, as
it is, by long series Of striking sue
eesses. Yet through overconfiGence
this staff committed glaring error
in the development of its offensive
in the Marne salient. 1t left the Ger
man right flank exposed to a crush
ing counter offensive.
Foch upset all its calculations. It
would not be at all remarkable if in
the furry of the readjustment made
necessary by the disaster to the
right flank the German High Com
mand failed at first to recover its
bearings. Ludendorff must have seen
as early as July Is that he would
have to retire to the Aisne. He
started a retirement But thereafter
his strategy seemed to become con-
fused and wavering
After July 18 he was never in any
real danger of development. He had
wide-open exit from the Marine
pocket. But he delayed his extrica-
ton and gave (for political or other
reasons) the impression that he was
going to stand on new lines within
the salient. He used up large masses
of reserves in defending positions
which were in themselves valueless
He was either over-deliberate in his
movements or over-sanquine in his
belief that he could hold off Foch's
pursuit. He finally lost the positions
he had elected to defend in force, and
lost them under circumstances which
emphasized the extent and thor
oughness of his defeat. For the
flight of his armies to and across
the Vesle has shown many symp-
toms of disorder and demoraliza
ton.
At Ludendorff's behest Boroevic
was removed from the command of
the AustroHungarian armies after
the recent failure on the Piave. But
Boroevlc's extrication was certainly
as successful as Ludendorff's, and
the collapse Of his campaign was due
to no glaring miscalculation like Lu-
dendortf's. The German chief of
staff's operation below the Vesle. in
fact, makes the Austro- Hungarian
operation in Northern Italy look
quite respectable. What if Vienna
should now call on Ludendorff to re-
sign?
Rams have hampered the Allied
pursuit of the German armies now
headed for the Chemin des Danes,
The pursuers have, however. cleared
the north bank Of the Aisne east Of
Solssons as far as Conde-sur-Aisne.
Here the Nesle joins the Aisne. The
Allies have crossed 10 the nortb
bank Of the Vesle at several points
flsmes, the big German base has
been occupied. According to the NIGHT
communique from Paris, the Ger
mans were defending the south hank
OF the Vesle only between Mu;zon
east of Jonchery, and Champignv
Champlgny is about two miles west
OF Rheims. But the French have
crossed the river to the east Of
Champigny and are threatening tho
German left flank. They have
reached La Neuvillette, about three
and a half miles northwest Of
'"helms, and are blocking the retire
ment of the Crown Prince of Prus-
sla S armies to the old line runninp
up from the north of Rheims toward
Berry -au- Bac.
Everywhere else the Germans are
IN full retreat beyond the Vesle fo,,
the positions north of the A;sno %
which they fled after the First Rat
tie OF the Marine. They can probably
rally behind the Chemin des DANES
where they will be near the ere .
supply base of Laon, will be in close
touch with the Grown Prince of
Bavarla's forces and will have tho
advantages of defence svster
which has served them for tho l..t
four years
There can be no sterilization of
I he Sltuot io,, IL