New-York tribune., 1918-08-28
Military Comment
By William l.. Mcpherson

Copyright 1915 by The Tribune Association--Nsw
York Trbune)
n UDENDORFF'S front in Picar-
dy and Artois caved in yes
terday in the centre. The
improvised line which he has been
attempting to hold from Arras down
to Noyon broke at many important
points.
In the south Roye went the way
Of Lassigny. General Debeneys
First French Army, following up its
successes Of Monday, drove through
this city in pursuit Of the beaten
Germans. 1t also took half a dozen
towns north and south of Roye, ad-
vancing two miles and half on a
fourteen mile front. Above Roye
the French reached Liancourt and
Cremery, on the Roye-Peronne high
road. This road passes two miles to
the east Of Chaulnes, and progress
up it a short distance will enable
the French to attack Chaunes from
the southeast and east. Hallu and
Frausart, directly south of Chaulnes,
were also taken. Chaulnes is prac-
tically enveloped and can hold out
only a few days longer.
Liancourt and Cr@mery are about
five miles southwest Of Nesle, which
is now also coming into the zone of
danger. North of Chaulnes, on the
left bank of the Somme, the British
advanced yesterday about three
miles-to the outskirts of Dom
pierre. This village is only about
six miles southwest of Peronne On
the other bank of the Somme
equally rapid progress was made.
The British were kept busy Monday
in this region repulsing fierce Ger
man counter attacks, intended to
save Combles and Pdronne. After
crushing these they sprang forward
again yesterday, overrunning Mari
court, Trones Wood and Vaux
Wood, and gaining possession of the
entire massif overlooking the
Somme Valley to the east. These
heights were essential to the reten-
ton Of Peronne as an anchor point
for TuGondorff's defence
A little further north the British
Third Army reached the outskirts
of Guillemont, which is only
two miles northwest of Combles.
Combles is the midway point in any
defensive line running from Pc
rome to Bapaume. Now it is use
les to the Germans, because in their
case no such line of defence is any
longer practicable. Bapaume is en-
veloped and has been virtually
abandoned. The British have reached
the outskirts of Vaulx- -Nraucourt.
four miles northeast of Bapaume,
and are close to the highroad lead
ing from Bapaumc to Cambrai. Still
higher up they have broken through
the old Hindenburg (Wotan) line at
Cherisy, close to the highroad lead
ing from Arras to Cambrai.
The whole German front in Picar-
dy and Artois has been shaken loose.
Ludendortf gambled on standing
fast there. He could have cvacu-
ated this vulnerable line a week ago
and made good retirement TO a
safer line, running north from
Noyon, through Nesle or Ham. to
Peronne and thence to Bapaume.
But he misjudged the offensive
strength of the Allies and the han
dicaps imposed on the defence by the
1918 style of warfare He has fool
shly wasted his reserves trying to
stave off the inevitable. Political
reasons influenced him, no doubt.
But that fact cannot wholly excuse
his lame and impotent strategy.
Now he is retreating toward the
Peronne-N Noyon line under condj-
tions imposed on him by the enemy
conditions which are robbinp
that line Of all it's military value