El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-01
GET A MAP AND USE IT; GERMANS
ARE A LONG WAY FROM THE PORTS

GOOD war maps may be had cheaply now. Get one and
trace it each days developments while big events
are transpng It is impossible have clear idea of
the progress Of the without
The need for the public to consult the map
so clearly illustrated as in recent days during the third
phase Of the German offensive One hears everywhere the
comment that the Germans driving at the channel
ports in making their attacks beyond scissors and Res
Nothing could be farther from the truth. If this is
than feint the Germans aiming at Paris They are
farther from the channel ports where they striking
now than any time the offensive opened in March
Look the map The offensive far has been divided
into three phases The first the blow delivered along
the line St Quentin north to Arras, with TIE railroad
center Of Amiens as the objective II could not De at
tanned therefore the second phase undertaken The
switched the north and attacked in Flanders
with the channel ports as Ihe oDJecVe Ahey met Wa
terioo in slaughter Of such magnitude they
obliged to stop in their tracks and reorganize.
Now comes the third phase. Instead Of renewing the
attack in Aas sector to the north in Flanders the
Germans transferred the offensive to the south and east
Of Aras buging ont the line between two definite
limits Scissors On the west and Rems on the east Both
cities were several miles southwest Of the line It then
stood This is what is known the Champagne sector
We apt think Of the whole line in France running
approximately due north and south This is
glance at the map VIII show. In the Champagne the line
Rms almost southeast and northwest
Thus the Germans chose to make their third attack IN
an area farther away from any possible objective than
either Of the two previous areas Of combat They cannot
possibly reach the channel ports N straight drive from
their present heater They farther distant from Pans
than when they started the lunge at Amens There
two suggestions TO be entertained Either the Ger
mans undertook this attack as fent expecting to draw
g the Champagne all Of Fochs and then make
lightning shift and strike again IN Flanders in Pcardy
IN the hope Of driving through before the allies could
their balance, else they expected to make this
Champagne drive surprise attack and break through
quickly the valley Of the Name and proceed thence
10 Paris Military experts incline 70 the latter theory
It is the high command Of the German prince
Friedrich Wilhelm delivering this attack Could he push
through success his catastrophe defeat at Verdun
would be botted from the memory Of his people and the
glory" Of the Hohenzollern dynasty restored.
Now may be answered another question often prngng
from the lips Of the casual reader; Why the allied
forces easily at the opening Of the Scissors
Reims attack last week7
Here is the answer: Because It surprise, a
pete surprise the allies and less to all Germans
the comparatively few who IN the planning. To
The north saeuts projecting into the allied lines,
IN Pcardy and the other In Flanders, both impera
lively in need Of widening ward off the possibility Of
disaster and both the principal detectives than any
other points the west front. What could be more
illogical than to suppose the German high command would
shift the heater Of combat far to the east and south and
strike blow against the strong Chemin Des Danes at
point where the river Aisne through gorge $50
feet deep?
Ike allies did not expect it and consequently they kept
their forces heavily modified before the saents where It
was logical suppose the enemy would his blows
The line on the Chemin Des Danes therefore very
lightly held and that why, after the Germans had
made quick shift Of at least 80 divisions within 4s hours
almost perfect routes Of Communication, they were