New-York tribune., 1918-12-15

Newton sees at once that he has been
outgeneraled and that the bulwark of
autocracy will fall into Dru's hands un-
less something is done. Therefore Gen.
eral Newton leaves his prepared posi-
tions and moves out to attack. Dru is
outnumbered, but he has laid his plans
carefully and is confident of the result
His idea is to make the victory so de-
cisive that one battle will end the war
So at last the people and autocracy are
face to face, and now is fought 1.-The
Battle of Elma":
General Dru had many spies in the enc
mics camp, and some of these succeeded
in crossing the lines each night in order to
give him what information they had been
able to gather.
"Some of these spies passed through the
lines late II o'clock the night before
the battle, and from them he learned that
general attack was to be made upon him
the next day at 6 o'clock in the morning.
GAS far as he could gather, and from his
own knowledge of the situation, it was Gen
eral Newtons purpose to break his centre
The reason Newton had this in mind was
that he thought Drus line was far flung
! and he believed that if he could drive
through the centre he could then throw
each wing into confusion and bring about
a crushing defeat.
GAS matter of fact, Dru's line was not
far flung but he had a few troops strung
out for many miles in order to deceive
aIut ha tod fO frN and
break his centre.
"Up to this time he had taken no
into his confidence, but at midnight he
called his division commanders to his head
quarters and told them his plan of battle
"They were instructed not to impart any
information to the commanders of brigades
until o'clock The men were then to be
aroused and given a hasty breakfast, after
which they were to be ready to march By
o'clock.
Recent arrivals had augmented his army
to approximately 100000 men. General New
ton had, far as he could learn, approx
mately 100000, there were more than
million of men facing another.
"Dru had twofold purpose in preparing
take no chances upon General Newtons
time of attack His information as to 6
o'clock he thought reliable, but it might
have been given out to deceive him and
much earlier engagement might be contem-
plated.
"His other reason was that he intended
to flank Newton on both wings
"It was his purpose to send, under cover
of night, 125,000 men to the right of New
ton and 900 to his left, and have them
conceal themselves behind wooded hills un-
til noon and then to drive in on him from
both sides.
"He was confident that with 250Oo0 de-
termined men, protected by the fortihca-
tions he had been able to erect, and VITA
the ground of his own choosing, which had
a considerable elevation the valley
through which Newton would have to
march, he could hold his position until
noon He did not count upon actual fight
ing before o'clock, or perhaps not be-
fore 9.
"Dru did not attempt to rest, but contln-
ned through the night to instruct his stan
officers, and to arrange, as far as he couio'
for each contingency Before o'clock ne
was satisfied with the situation and fe'
assured of victory.
"He was pleased to see the early morn
ing hours develop fog for this would
cover the march of his left and right Wings
and they would not have to make so wloe