Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-04-02
PREVENTS
SUCCESS OF GERMANS
IN WESTERN DRIVE
General Pershing's Tactics
Caused Enemy to Change
Pre-Arranged Plans
By j. w. t. Mason

/
New York, April 2.-America's first
year at the front ras prevented the
Germans from waging successful ma
jor offensive against the Western allies.
Germany's high hopes of a victorious
assault upon the Anglo-French lines
We're clamorously proclaimed in Berlin
at the beginning of the winter. But
General Pershing's forces grew during
the winter too rapidly in numbers and
efficiency. German boastfulness collap-
sed and Won Hindenburg was compelled
to veto the winter movement.
! The influence of America S military
power upon the plans of the Germans
general staff began with General Per-
shing s clever distribution of His troops
at strategic centers along the entire
| length of the French front. Last Novem-
Der the Germans discovered American
troops at the Rhine Marine canal, op-
posite the Lorraine border Won Hin
denburg gave quick evidence that he be-
ieved he had found the key of General
Pershing S strategy. 1t was thought to
be drive toward the Rhine. The Ger
man General Staff thereupon concen-
trated strong reserves at the Metz and
near the Swiss border, these being the
two extreme points between which any
movement toward the Rhine must occur.
BY thus fixing Won Hindenburg' IS at
tention inside German territory in the
west, General Pershing prevented any
offensive use of the German reserves in
France and Belgium.
But when Won Hindenburg had dis
posed of his reserves to guard the Rhine
General Pershing began a redistribution
of his troops. He started to move them
westward away from the Rhine. The
Germans discovered American forces
during the winter near st. Mihiel, then
still further west, near Tahure, and fin
ally near the Soissons area, where the
French front joins the British.
simultaneously with this western
movement of the Americans, renewed
reports began to circulate of forth
coming German offensive, as if other re-
serves were being moved into France to
check the Americans. Thefeupon Gen
eral Pershing arranged to make the next
appearance of American troops near the
Swiss border at the very point OF the
French line nearest the Rhine. Won Hin
denburg was thus prevented from dis
turbing his reserve formation IN that re-
uion. 70 hold in check at the same
time any movement into France or the
Metz reserves, the Americans next con-
Quoted series of operations against the
enemy's trenches along the Lorraine
front. near the Rhine Marine canal, Ann
erica IS original trench position.
This strategy brought forth new dis
claimers from Berlin of any Immediate
intention of launching a western often
slve.
When on the first day of spring, Won
,Hif.!.enburg finally drove forward
AGAINST the British front, his offensive
was halted at the end of week be-
-ause his available reserves were ex
nausted. The Americans along the Al
SAGE Lorraine border were keeping Ger
man reserves inactive at Metz and IN
southern Alsace. At the same time Am
erica IS fast growing military strength
i'm France caused Won Eindenburg to
decline to risk further slaughter OF his
other troops before America 8 full pow
er became operative. The two facts ex-
erted a vital influence in preventing
the attainment Of Won Hindenburg 's
purpose.
America S first year at the front ends
therefore with the major purposes Of
American strategy having been fulfilled:
General Pershing S forces have familiar
lied themselves with all the main areas
of the French front the Americans have
baffled Won Hindenburg concerning
their major intentions; they have COM
pelled the concentration of German re-
serves inside the German boundary for
the first time since the early months OF
the war; and they have forced Won
fIindenburg to abandon the risk Of a
further offensive in the west. II
German assault now comes, it will be
without hope of positive gains to Ger
many. Its purpose will be to try to de-
stroy some of the advantages Of posi-
ton the allies hold. That means it will
be in reality movement of defensive
strategy. So much has the United
States contributed toward winning the
war during the first year of prepara-