Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-02
GIN SMASHING
3 WAY TOLAON
eanco- American Advance
threatens Cornerstone of
Hindenburg Line
A TRAP FOR ENEMY
German Press Anxious Over
Possibility of Fighting
Along the Rhine

ctFvtsght, 1918. bv Nc,o York Times Co.
Paris. Sept. 2.
Foch's gigantic battle Idle foschsche
r4esenschlacht, as the great German
paper, the Cologne Gazette. now terms
the present effort OF the Allies) has
grown much more menacine for the
ensnny during the last tw~enty-four hours.
For the first time since 1915 reports
now allude to progress being made to
ward Lille" and speculation Is now
busy here with the question whether
the boasted H%indenburg line will this
time be able to stand the test the Allies
are for the first time about to put 1t to.
So rapid has been the march of events
In the last week that It is now realized
here that never so much as today have
the fortunes of the enemy hung SO much
In the balance.
1t Is significant hat within the last
day or two. for the nrst time since the
war began, the German press is be-
ginning to allude with more or less
anxiety to the possibility that their
armies may before long be driven back
behind the Rhine. Mere reference to
such a subject by the German news
papers speaks Volumes for the impress
sion Foch's continued victories are max
Ing Upon the mind of the enemy.
Opinion here Is now satisfied not only
that the Germans will be compelled 10
continue their retreat az far pack as
the Hindenburg line, but that the sit
uation Of the Allies is now such that
they are fully prepared to make, with
every prospect Of success, a determined
effort in the near future against what
IL believed to be the last serious obstacle
ITO the enemy's being driven entirely out
OF France.
HiadsnburG Line Can he Broken
The more the problem OF attacking the
H~indenburg line is studied, the more
French opinion inclines to believe it
owes very large proportions of its
strength to the manner in which the
Germans. to comfort the people at home
and to Brighten the Allies at the same
time, q trumpeted forth its impreg-
nable character. There is no Illusion
here in regard to the progress already
mad by the British against what is
commonly regarded as the northern ter
minus of this line. 1t is recognized thai
all German positions northwest of
oueant in the direction of Arras are
merely Subsidiary extensions Of the Hin
denburg lire proper.
This switch line is really one which
joins the classic H~indenburg line up
with the ordinary German line running
northward from Thampoint to the sea,
and consists largely of a series Of
trenches, one behind the other. running
~ to Cambria and Douai. These po-
sitions bear no comparison with the i'm
rncnseiy strong concrete Notifications,
amply endowed with tunnels, under
ground railways and enormous assem-
halls. carved deep into the earth
. capable of holding whole battalions
trocis safely sheltered from the ef.
ts of even the largest shell, which
from Queant right down past st.
kntin round the bastion of Laon to
pint behind the Chemin-des-Dames.
re the Hindenburg line joins up
IN with the cnemy's ordinary defen-
lines.
problem which IL being discussed
Ii whether Foch. once he has
N back tho German to the linden
line along it's whole length. will
. to attempt to bite 1t at various
"a points. or choose what seems
sss dificult course Of trying to
this long series of continuous posi-
FROM both end While maintaining
- warfare along the whole line.
Ma BE Fatal Handicap
must not be forgotten, however.
the Germans. how ever strong the
hnburg line may be. labor under
andicap that the very strength and
rate nature of their positions may
hte fatally against themselves. Elk
bnce has repeatedly shown that when
cked in suf1cient force by heavy
Eilery and high explosives the Ger
underground shelters. thirty or
'fe feet deep, may be turned into reg
fdeath al During the frst Somme
e, thousands of German soldiers
ind themselves trapped In this way,
exits of the perfectly constructed
8cltsrs being blocked by the Allied
heavy gums, and they either suffocated
or fell victims to leisurely capture by
the attacking troops when the process
/ o. clearing up the trenches occurred.
The cornerstone of the whole linden
" 0UEK Iln8 10 tHc hhBU VI 8hLb
which CURVES round Laon. This always
has been the pivot round which the Ger
Z man operations In France turned since
kfta4, and the loss Of it must inevitably
ead to their immediate retreat to the
frontier. This pivot position Is now
berinning to be seriously threatened by
uangin and his brilliant, daring Franco.
Americans, by their advance between
~ Aisns and the Disc, while round
80 corner to the eastward beyond
Hhe{rus II GourAud's maSnincently train.
"a arm silently awaiting their moment
tive the two on the vesle are the
Xnerscans facing the Crown Princes
froops. who are reported to be anxious
~ avengu their DISASTROUS defeat on the
Ilarne. The position here is the most
eufiously Interesting on the whole bat
tle<sout-
Nay DELAY CHINESE ELECTION
p1icadons Suggest Compromise
on President
~ Csbis 70 Eoenins Public Ledge,
etonk. 1efs. By Ns0 Fork Ttmss Co.
0spt. 2.-Indications suggest