The Washington herald., 1918-04-23
FRENCH AWAIT
new DRIVE BY
HALTED ENEMY
Captured Captain Says They
Must Win to Hold Pop
ulace in Line.
NO CHANCE TO SURPRISE
Germans May Resume Of
fensive on American
Held Toul Front.
mo CHANCE TO SURPRISE

. French military critics are unani-
nous in predicting a prompt renewal
of the German offensive. They base
their predictions on the statements of
captured German officers. A type OF
such statements Is this by a captured
German captain:
IF we do not obtain our offensive OBJ
tectives by the end OF May 1t will be
useless TO further attempt to drug the
public opinion of Germany with talk
of success"
This French opinion was contained
in summaries of French press COM
ment received here Yesterday. While
predicting the prompt renewal OF the
German grand attack. the Echo de
Paris calls attention to the fact that
this time the offensive cannot be
launched with the initial advantage OF
surprise. Throughout the length OF
the British, Frerch and American
lines. the paper says. there are Bel
gian, British. Portuguese. French.
American and italian troops In ample
numbers to meet any first German
thrust
The Petit Parisien declares that
whereas the object of the just ended
drive was to separate the allies. it has
had the exactly opposite effect.
Offensive Perfects Cooperation.
Never" says the Petit Parisien.
have allies stood more firmly to-
gether, bound by more powerful ties.
~ ,-<,A IN
.fesise -tises common enemy The Ger
man offensive has perfected the CO.
operation among us and among our
troops as nothing else could have
done"
Reports to British officers here tndi-
cate quiet Throughout the west front
The French reports also show nothirg
more than raids and artillery activity.
The French communique again refers
to activity on the Toul sector and says
that the French and Americans have
regainsd afi the trenches captured by
German storm troops.
1t is pointed out that the Toul sector
has peen the most active on the front
for seventy-two hours. This indicates
that 1t may be the scene of the re-
newal of the German effort.
Predicted q Week Ago.
Such a development was predicted
a week ago. 1t was pointed out then
that the logical place for the Ger
mans to turn their attention to was
the junction between French and
American forces after they had tried
the junction between the French and
British. and the British. Belgians and
Portuguese. 1t was then stated that
the attack at Toul or in Lorraine
would be postponed until the Germans
had cleaned up either the Ypres or
Arras salient.
The course of the battle has ex-
actly followed this prediction during
the week and seems now to be fur
ther fulfilling it, The Germans first
tried and failed to wipe out the Yprcs
salient, from which the British part
ly withdrew in order to save its
base. Likewise the next German at
tack was directed at Givenchy in an
effort to break down the Arras sa-
lient toward Bethune. Both these
operations having apparently been
brought to frutless stop. many
observers believe that the Toul sec
tor will be next and that the Ger
mans are developing there a process
Of feeling out its defenders.
But" cautions a Canadian vet
eran of Ypres, you won't get any
one to make a prediction as to where
the next attack Is going to be. No
body here knows. II we did know
We wouldn't tell"