New-York tribune., 1918-04-30
Fresh Troops, Attacking
Fiercely, Fail to
Advance
Allies Line at
Givenchy Urlshaken
Kennels !..;;::.s Serious, but
Allies Strategic Position
Is Unchanged
By Caspar Whitney
Tribune Cable Service7


PARIS, April 29.-After Che derccst
assaults by shock troops, increased by
newly refreshed numbers, the German
advance on the Channel ports stands
practically where it did yesterday.
In the south the supreme effort to
secure the important high ground
around Villers- Brctonneux in the
Amiens drive failed, notwithstanding
the unrelenting attacks with rein
forced, renewed divisions.
Givenchy, the gate to Bethune, has
been ledgehammered by an added
number of troops with the greatest
ferocity, but it still stands unbroken,
while the costly attempts to drive q
wedge between the French and British
has resulted only IN a closer union
and in list Of German casualties long
enough to sober any general less reck-
less of mems lives than Won Bernhard.
Although the loss of KENNEL was
serious, yet the strategical position of
the Allies remains unchanged. 1t was
probably strengthened by the reten-
tion after brilliant fighting of the viii
lage of Locre, lying in the valley be-
tween KENNEL and Rouge and stand
ing in the way of further German
advance.
Hills Extend Twenty Miles
To follow intelligently the great
struggle in Flanders, which will last
many weeks, one should understand
that the broken chain Of hills barring
German progress to the coast rises out
of the plains five miles south of Ypres
and Poperinghe and between them and
Hazebrouck, the same distance south of
the hills. This chain extends twenty
miles, from near the Ypres- Confines
canal on the east to Mount Cassel on
the west, with a centre group 800 feet
high with Mount de Cats at the western
end, Mount Rouge at the eastern eX
treme, while KENNEL and Cassel arc
isolated hills separated from the east
ern and western ends of the chain by
rolling country.
The penetration of these discon-
nected hills to the north, the capture
of Ypres, or cutting the line of COM
munication with Calais at Popernghe
and taking Hazebrouck Junction is the
German endeavor in this sector and ex-
plains Ludendortf's persistence and the
price he appears to be willing to pay.
KENNEL Not Essential
Important, however. as KENNEL is,
it was not essential to Allied success
Should the Boche hold it, the Allies
hold other positions on the chain which
oppose and will eventually halt him.
Locre is the first of these beyond
which the Boche can pass only with a
very heavy loss, from which even
German commander may shrink. AL
though 1T Is unwise to minimize the
seriousness of the loss of such an inn
portant key position in this area, it is
necessary to obtain proper perspec-
tive Of the battle, to consider the con-
trlbuting elements-the price paid, the
Plan OF the Allies, and the vantage
ground which still remains in their
hands.
The German encircling movements
have been made possible by the greatly
larger forces and the entire disregard
of loss of life The enemy secured
KENNEL by advancing on the flanks
and from the front in overwhelming
strength and leaving his dead in al
most carpet on the hillsides, from
which the French retreated onlv after
heroic defence and deadly execution
Although the hill gives observation
over the Ypres area, the Allies, are
strongly placed to the west and north
and are growing stronger daily as the
amalgamation of the British and
French improves and the American
torccs prepare to enter.
That the Germans were Obliged to
call new, fresh divisions to secure this
1o0thold indicates the quality of the
Allied resistance and the speed with
when the Germans are using up their
the Germans pay the highest nrice for
every mile they advance at minimum
cost TO themselves should be weighed
IN the balance with all local Roche
successes. e'e
Despite such gains those who arc IN
position to judge with some accuracv
ieel that the German flood is spendn~
l1self on the Allies bayonets and thaf
"l.nough even heavier onslaughts are
certain and perhaps further local sue
cess possible it is not too ont;r;st;o
after, months stupendous Effort -
say that its rage is unavailine 70 re.ch
the main objective. 1e"e'
Germans Seek Finish FIGHT
That the Boches are wil1;nn -
flee life so ruthlessly both in ~ - oaGri. w.
and behind it through the S,1;ao, t'ne
Valor on the ground and their dar;uo
and consummate skill in the air snn'
gests the enemy's desperate .deterna;-
nation on decision, the hr;nrna
nearer of the day OF his exhausf;ogg ht;og
and the disclosure of Foch's stroLa
t;a,, Wlth a strategical reserve army prac-
Yet the gravity of the situation is
not to be blinked at. The Germans still
nave manyareserve divisions which will
last long time, even at the rate thev
are being used ut present. More and
more the question of the hour he.
comes one of man power as the battla
settles to exhausting the foe and vet
surviving with enough strength to De-
liver a knockout in this test of endur-
ance.
On this basis the Allied ampaien is
being conducted. In the final effort
victory will go to the side with the
last reserves, and on America now rests
the respOnsihilitY of nuttinr that las4