Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-03-31
Entrance of French Into Strug-
gle Makes New CompIica-
ton for German Advance
Below Somme, Says Writer,
PRESENT DETECTIVES
NOT QUITE CLEAR
Taking of AmienS and ArrasI
First Purpose in Offensive,
and Thence to North Sea Isl
Probable Aim,
tar MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrsrI

tHY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wraEl
With the British Armies in France
March S0.-(By the Associated
Press THE wheels of the war mill
continued to turn slowly on the Brit
ish battle front today, although there
are many indications that intense
speeding up may come at any mo-
ment.
Just south of the Scarpe, near Ar
ras, the enemy late this forenoon be-
gan bombardment which might
easily presage another assault on that
city. 1t is written in the books that
such an attack will come, but up to
the latest reports there has been no
infantry action. Further south on the
British right there was hard local
fighting about Mezieres and Denuin.
which was continuance of yester-
days struggle, but the most impor-
, tant action seemed to be taking place
on the French left, where it was re-
ported the Germans were pursuing
their furious attacks.
Comparative Inactivity.
Along the rest of the battle front
comparative inactivity continued so
far as infantry fighting was con-
cerned
This, then, was the status of affairs
on the tenth day of the battle, while
no one can foresee what trend such
vast operations will take, there are
many things to support the following
Interpretation of the situaton
For two days past there has been a
cessation along the major portion of
the northern front of the bitter war
fare waged at the outset Undoubt-
edly this is in accordance with the
German plans, for it was impossible
Tor the enemy to proceed farther
without pausing to bring forward his
supporting artillery. These things
now are being accomplished. The
main factor affecting the operations
Is the question of time.
Delay Helps Defense
In this as in any other offensive,
delay gives relatively greater advan-
tage to the defense than to the ag-
gressors, because the defense NAV be
assumed to have better communica-
uons. For this reason the enemy
must press his attack quickly.
The crucical sector, which in the
opening days of the battle lay in the
vicinity which the Germans hoped
TO use as a gateway to a westward ad-
vance, now appears to have adropped
TO the zone below the Somme. This
IS due to two reasons. In the first
place. the resistance offered along
the northern front Undoubtedly upset
the schedule and plans of the Ger
man command. Finding their prog
ress here too slow, the Germans turn
ed their attention to the southern sec
tor. where they had, continued their
successes
Probable Objections.
In the second place, the entrance
OF the French into the battle also
raised large problem for the enemy
and gave the Germans a further
reason for pushing hard below the
Somme in order to divide the allied
armies if possible. The probabili-
ties are that the Germans will con-
tinue to exploit their successes on
the south. The extension of the front
of attack undoubtedly is due to the
terrain, which is restricted by the
marshy valleys of the Avre and the
Somme.
What the enemy's ultimate objec-
tive might be, If he should succeed in
driving his wedge between the two
armies, is matter of speculation,
but it is not unreasonable to assume
that he would proceed to the north
west through Amiens and thence to
the sea. On the extreme north the
Germans will press their attack
against Arras. for they not only de-
sire possession of this city with it's
railway facilities, but wish to broaden
the salient they have driven in the
British line,