The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-06-21
EXPECT GERMANS
70 STRIKE AGAIN
BEFORE JUNE END
Qindenburg Due in Paris
BY Twenty-eighth
Of June.
GEN.FOcH WILL Be READY
He Has Shown Splendid
Ability to Guess the
Teutonic Plans. 2
GEH.F0GH WILL Be READY
by Newspaper Enterprise Associ.

made another date with Won linden
burg to take dinner in Paris on June2o.
Letters taken from captured German
soldiers IN the battle Of Disc show that
they we're told by their officers tns'
paris was to be captured by that dale'
This Is taken by military critics here
N indicate that the German general
otafS has laid plans for fifth great
biow A. the allied armies Immediately
to follow the offensive between Mont
didIer and Noyon which ended In COM
plete failure.
That there would be fifth phase OF
the great 1918 offensive has never
been doubted. II is well understoou
by the allies that the German
utFategy Is TO launch closeless attacks
AT various points on the front until inc
allios are SO exhausted that a break
thfouah 10 Paris and the channel ports
viii be possible.
Next Blew This Month.
Obseryers now believe that the next
blow will be launched about June ~
or %, ten days after the collapse OIL
the drive for Ccmpiegre. The great
question is, where will II come?
Reviewing the offensive since It's
horinning on March 81, II will be
noted that the Germans have struck
each time at a different spot. First
II was At Amiens and Arras, where the
HUNS launched their hardest attacks
made their greatest territorial gain
The second drive was at Ypres early
IN April. Here the French and British
held the enemy back at KENNEL with
comparatively small gains.
The third phase came at scissors
and on the Marine, after a lull OF more
This line had been weakened by the
allies TO reinforce the Amiens front,
and the result was that the Germans
reached the Marine. Again, however
than a month during which linden
burg reformed his shattered aGnies'
the French and Americans reserve
filled the gap and stopped the foe.
Foe Can Strike Anywhere.
The fourth offensive came Just
where General Foch had reason to
heteye It would be struck-on the
Oise front between Montdidier AID
Noyon. This time he was ready, and
the Germans were held to five mile
advance at terrific losses.
Hindenburg is now concentrating
die forces for a fifth attack somewhere
along the front from Ypres TO Verdun
Il win not be long in coming. 1t Is
possible that even he Is not yet certain
where It will fail.
The Germans have the advantage OF
the allies in occupying the inside OF
4 semi-circle, where they can mass a
vast number Of troops and throw them
at - hours notice against any point
IN the long line that seems most vul-
nerable.
aaiui 1851 eQi 10 6sslBns eQl u
months Is followed, the foe will strike
q point which has not felt the shock
o. battle this year. In this event the
front between Rheims and VerdUn Is
the most likely.
On this 'front.'. near Chalons-sur
Name, American troops are In the
line, unless they have been removed
b. General Foch to reinforce some
other part Of the front.
May Attack In Lorraine.
The possibility also exists OF an
attack on the American line 10 the
east % this front, anywhere between
81 Mihiel and Lnneville. German
troops have been concentrated behind
Tits line, and General Pershing has
been preparing to meet an offensive
there. An attack here would not seri.
Oasly affect the battle for Paris, but 1t
might force a retirement Of the allies
from the Verdun salient II the
Germans were successful.
The majority Of the military obSer'
VorB, however, are agreed that the
Germans must renew their battle
somewhere between Ypres and Rheims
g they are TO gain their hopes-the
separation Of the British and French
armies and the capture Of Paris and
the channel ports.
This requires Hindenburg to make
Que straight Hne Of the front between
Montdidier and Chateau ThieTry,
forcing the French back on the Disc,
where the hghting OF the last week
took place. To do this he must take
from the allies q strip Of territory 30
miles wide at its base and ~ miles
deep at its deepest point So far the
oiso drive has penetrated the allied
me 70 only . fraction Of this extent,
leaving the German line open 10 flank.
lng attacks from two sides.
The second requirement OF this bat.
tlo fOF Paris Is for the Germans to
return 70 the battle at Amiens and
ArTag, break the British line and roll
General Haig'S army back into Bel
fl1m.
thus We may expect the next blow
% cone OF one ~ three points.
1.BotWoen Rheims and Verdun.
3. Between MOntdidier and Chau.
loln ThiOrFy.
;. Between Amiens and Arras.
The nth phase will be no more de-.
cI1iVo than were the arSt four. Il will
bo tollOWod By q series OF ofienSives
90 TIE rest Of the summer, for the
'lef has Otaked everything on the
result q the next four months fight.
1l1 y. 8. Drive Next Year.
Ho must concentrate all his re.
51re) Qlsths effort to gain a anal