The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-18
GENERAL MAURICE DISCUSSES
SITUATION ON THE WEST FRONT

LONDON April 1.-The greater part
! of Wyisch;tclc and probably all 81 IT,
| is in The hands Of the British Major
General r. Is. Maurice. chief director "t
military operations at IN" war office
, announced To-day.
Cuuntcr-atiackinE successfully ut
MrtcrrH and south or that plar" Inc
British have driven back the Germans
half way To Bailleul. They have adj
4, ranced and improved their lines in IN"
direct ion Of Neur+Rirlisc.
THE news last night and to-day is
better says Genera! MauricH. while
l am not able tn say definitely that Il.
Wytschact" is entirely III our hands, wc
hold The greater part and probably the
whole of it,.
AS mentioned in Field Marshal HaiG's
communicates wc made Il withdrawal 10
u new limo in tn" YprcS salient. Tho
withdrawal WAS decided upon on sunday.
It was carried out partly On Sunday
night and cunpirtrd Oh Monday. II IS n
rrErettahlo military necessity which
forces US 10 give M ground which W.
won at such heavy cost. On Tuesday
tho Germans were still Smelling trenches
which We had left the day before.
Il returned last night from France.
said General Maurice at the outset al
his talk with the Associated Press.
The situation yesterday WAS very anN-
inus. Tho Germans had taken Railleul.
Mclnrcn and WyiSchate and had brought
four fresh divisions into action against
u.s. If the enemy could have maintain
cd that pressure there looked to be vital
danger to the ridge Of heights which
Includes Mount KENNEL. and which is
the backbone Of our defense on thr
Of hc In la
the news last night and to-day is bet
tor
General Maurice then referred 10 the
successful British countrr-nltack in the
nciEhhorhuod Of WytsChactc and To the
British withdrawal in the YprrS salient
and continued:
preparations for shortening our lin"
in iprcS salient were made sam" tfHr
ago, and tho decision to carry il out
WAS renrhcd hrfOrc the fall Of Eaiiicul.
owing Ia tn. danger offered IL our posi-
lions in the salient from Il Thanking
movement TIL" withdrawal was not die
,at"d ur governed by the adverse c"urS"
nr events around Baiitrui hut b. NOR"
general considerations.
What Of the whole battle situation:
Our army has been going through Il very
severe strain and that strain has been
had its critical moments aud still is
d"cdrdly anxious. hut remember We
have accepted the principle Of Il united
front and must+acccnt the Consequences
"f that principle. We must look NJ tho
whole battle not from our army'& sac
ririC"s and suffcrinss. but from the
Of the whole entente.
The British army is playing the
role which it often has played i"Corc. ,
II is lighting IA Waterloo while l'lurhcr ,
is marching tn Me battlefield, Null
TINY tn" hath of Waterloo II hundred
fold and the sit"Htiuu AT nn"n IN that
battle corresponds IL TN situation now
in the great world battle.
The British army is under ger !
rihlc hammcrinS. but providing Eiuchrr
is marching to III" battlefield there Is
no reason for diScnuragrmcnt
The rnuritinuS task which the British !
army has performed ard stll Is per
mag lr shown Ev a few fig !
lrrs IL his Mttl" OF !Arn"ntiet.s the !
Germans thus far hnvr cnEaC"d twenty
light divisions and sine" Mhrtn Il they |
have engaged l2G diTiSiurs. !
"nf tEes: The British Amy alone has
engaged -, the FrrEch alone have en-
rrGcd - and the remainder %. have !
been cugarcd hy the British and French !
together.
"Of the German divisions which the
British engaged IS have been fought
Twice and one thrice. or the German
divisions which me French engaged. ,
four have fought twice. OF the Ger
run divisions which the French and
british engaged together. Is have been
fought twice and one Thrice.
III is unpleasant business standing
he hnmmrriug hut ST. long rs We can
stand it tho only question To he asked
$: What Is happening 10 Rluchcr? What
las Income Ot the reserves:
"hlthuugh the French army is larger
liam ours W" have taken The strain Of
.hrs,. battles off them. There is no
-t;sot "a 10. in Il stale Of despair If isr
situation is regarded from Il broad point
n view ;lnd if We regard our great sac
'ificcS rightly as another part Of the
great drama,
Forh. "" hear from France. iS pro-
tnu1ic,-,i almost to rhyme with horhe.