The sun., 1918-07-10
RECENT EVENTS
SHOW MEASURE
OF ENEMY TASK
London Military Critic Ex-
plains Vulnerability Of
TeutOn Position.
TACTICS PROVE FAULTY
Superiority in Numbers Gone,
Due to Losses Inflicted
by Allies.
TACTICS PROVE FAULTY
Special Cable Despatch 10 THs SrS.
Copyri1ht, 1918; all rights reserred.


LONDON. July 9.-The real explana-
ton OF the long delay in the German Of
fensive Is the fact that Gen. Ludendorff
does not see his way to a successful
attack. It is pointed out by the military
correspondent Of the Westminster Ca
zetfe. whose comment usually reflects
accurate Information and sound judg-
ment
1t may be added that all the devel-
opments Of the last few weeks bear out
this view, including the attacks by the
British and French. all of which were
OF a nature to make Ludendorfrs prob
lem still more difficult.
The French attack yesterday was
typical. Driving forward on a front of
two and half miles at the point of the
wedge which the Germans had driven
south toward Compiegne and Paris about
month ago. the French penetrated
about mile near Antheuil. north of the
capital. taking 450 prisoners and subse-
quently holding their gains against all
counter attacks.
French Command Positions.
The new position OF the French gives
them command of ground over which
any ne.v German advance in this region
must be made.
On their sectors the British advance
at Hamel. in which American troops
played brilliant although minor part.
is Of the same character. The ground
gained will be of great value TO the
British II new drive Is attempted by
| the Germans. but II would have been OF
much greater value to the Germans.
Regarding Ludendorffs dilemma the
Westminster GGsette says:
1t Is a mistake to assume that the
| Germans relied for success upon the
weight OF numbers when they launched
| their offensive in March. On the con-
trary. their main reliance was upon
Ludendorff's new scheme OF tactics.
which he believed would give him both
speedy and decisive victory. After a
year of careful preparation the German
armies tried these new tactics and
failed to get through
No Longer Superior in Forces.
THE action before Arras on March IS
! showed that the Ludendorft method al
| though 1t might yield a certain initial
result. could not push the advantage
home. That experience has since been
confirmed. Not only has Ludendorffs =
method been proved to be insufficient,
but it has cost him very heavy losses.
The Germans no longer possess the
superiority of numbers which they had
in March and unless they can evolve
new tactics they cannot hope TO do ir
July what proved beyond their powers
! earlier in the year.
Failure through an insufficient tac,i
cal method Is far more grave than 4
failure where reliance was placed upor
numbers In the latter kind of failuSs
II you still have some advantage ir
numbers you may try again: in the
former kind, having no advantage OF
| numbers or none large enough-anC
nothing under so per cent. preponder
ance can assure success in "A mass at
tack-lt Is idle to try again until yol
have invented something better. A tacti
cal failure is in every sense moro de
csve.
Gen Ludendorff is not attacking be
cause as yet he does not see any pros
pect of doing so with success. When h
thinks he has evolved new taCtica
movement he will attack; otherwise h
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