Bisbee daily review., 1918-10-23
OBSERVERS THINK
 HEAVY FIGHTING DUE
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 characterize subsequent retirement. Several halts of this kind may be ex- pected, it was said, as the withdrawal project is carried out. The fact that the allied armies are hampered by ex- tending communication lines gives op- portunity for such halts before Mar shal Foch's forces can come up in sui ficient force to compel a resumption of the rearward movement.
 The line surrendered by the enemy from Lille northward to the coast, 1t was pointed out, was far stronger and no longer than that he now stands upon in Belgium. In addition, by the evacuation of the Flanders coast, he has furnished the allies with means of setting up new and more direct communication lines from England via Ostend, Zeebrugge or other Flanders ports. Without question it is said, these avenues of supplying the ad- vancing armies already are being op- ened to free the longer lines back into France of that burden and conse- quently officers cannot see any tacti- cal advantage gained by the ehemy unless he intends to fall back at least to the line of the Mouse.
 The first stage of the great retreat is almost complete. The German right flank has been swung back like a gate all the way from Solesmes, north of Valenciennes, to the Dutch border. South of the pivot, however, there has been little change on the front from the Disc to the Mouse. It has been noted that heavy concentration or forces was made by the Germans on the L.ecateau- Oise-Serre front and also against the American pressure north west of Verdun. Without question the retention of these lines unbroken was vital to the German plan ot ac- ton. Now that the withdrawal in the north has progressed so fully, how ever, 1t would cause no surprise here of a retirement between the Disc and the Serre were undertaken without de- day, to rectify the whole line.
 To many officers 1t seems possible that events have so shaped the lines that a great drive may soon be under taken, calculated to upset the whole German plan Of retirement. Already the allied lines have been shortened so that considerable forces must be available for the work, particularly British The time cannot be far away also when the American second army, under Major General Bullard, will be put into play.
 To some observers it seems possible that a wide attack may be made by the two American armies, both east and west of the Mouse. the thrust be- ing aimed at the great rail artery passing through Sedan and MOntmedy. A cooperating French assault west of the Argonne would naturally be a part of such a thrust. To other officers, however, recently French raiding ope- rations in Alsace seem to have signiti- canoe. Apparently information is de- sired as to the German strength on that front and as to the character and quality of the troops there. Such raids invariably precede offensive opera tions, although they rarely disclose by their locality the exact place of the proposed attack.
 So far as the German peace over lures are concerned, army officers hold that manifestly now is the time of times for a new and crushing blow. With the hope of early peace being dangled before the eyes of the war weary German troops. their morale will be at it's lowest ebb. it was said, while in the allied and American ranks the roundabout German admis- sions of defeat can only have given new zest for the fight