Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-27
KENNEL CAPTURE
ONLY SHORT STEP
TOWARD HUN GOAL
Military Experts Here Think
Loss Has Been Magnified in
Civilians Minds.
ONE STRATEGIC POINT
IN GERMANS ADVANCE

IN GERMANS ADVANCE
Capture of the KENNEL mountain by
Germans is regrettable, but it is only .
reverse of the sort that may be ex-
pected in the midst of a drive on such
a scale as the enemy has launched, in
the opinion of military experts in Wash
ington.
First Radcliffe Statement.
Interest among Army officers here to-
military operations and the first state-
ment Of Gen. Delma Radcliffe. who sue
ceeded Gen. F. B. Maurice shortly after
the latter had issued the review OF the
western front situation In which he in--
Quired: What has become of the
French reserve army"
Effort to correct the impression given
in that statement is seen in the refer
ences to the reserves and also to his
commendation of the fact that the re-
serves are in the hands of one COM
mand. 1t is believed that Gen. Rad
cliffe sought to make clear that a re-
serve force does exist, and that the
English concur heartily in the leader
ship of Gen. Foch. thereby removing
the impression that Gen. Maurice's
there was British opposition to the
Acsr
commander.
Officers who have followed the war
situation in Europe from its civilian
aspects as well as in a strict military
sense are not surprised that news like
that of today should cause discourage
ment in the United States where ac-
tual participation on a large scale has
just begun. After several years of ex-
perience in the ups and downs of war
fare, these officials say, it is likely that
the people of France and England are
much less affected by the fortunes Of
war than the Americans.
Misjudged by Germans.
Already there is evidence in plenty.
1t is contended. that the Germans once
more have misjudged the psychology
of the United States. and Instead OF
becoming habitually depressed. the re-
action of reverse now is only to
Gpeed UP preparation and add to the de-
Termination Of the American people to
throw every energy into the business
of war. Officials who are in touch with
publications throughout the country
have remarked on the striking refec-
tion of this attitude in newspapers
large and small.
In analyzing the actual military ef-
fects Of the loss of KENNEL, even as
suming that Gen. Foch does not re-
capture it, of which there is a possibil-
fty, officers point out that the loss is
magnified In the minds Of civilians by
the fact that such a valiant effort was
made to hold it. 1t adds one strategic
point to the German advance; it marks
only one step. and a small one, in their
apparent effort to reach the channel.
Its capture possibly means the with
drawal from Ypres. and the with
drawa1 from Ypres puts the Germans
another step nearer the channel. TAX
ing cognizance of the worst that may
happen, it Is pointed out that access
to thee channel at Dunkirk would be
to the allies. but in
no sense decisive. A more valuable
they still are far from reaching 1t,
would be Calais.
There has been little open speculation
about what. might happen If some OF
the enemy objectives really are at
tanned This attitude is best ex-
pass" and in all the allied countries
there has been a tacit understanding
not even to give thought to possible
outcomes of defeats.
If Germans Reach Calais.
Overcoming this attitude and grant,
ing for argument that the Germans
out that such entry would seriously
hamper channel communication, would
threaten Dover with disaster. but that
Boulogne and points south still would
permit easy communication between
France and England.
Were it not for the moral effect OF
Belgium completely and re-
the Belgian army from its own
soil, some military. experts have even
the opinion that the allies
would be In stronger position in some
respects. should the Germans go to
Dunkirk. because Of the shortening Of
the allied lines. and the greater con-
centration of forces. How. much this
advantage would be offset by the short
er distances the German bombing air.
craft would have to travel to get to
and the possibility of inter
ference with shipping is a matter Of
speculation.
Situation Summed Up.
Officers emphasize the fact that the
statement that the present
is a critical one does not
mean that one or two or a series OF
small. reverses are decisive. The truth
that the Germans have gained no ground
Of advantage still holds good. They
point to parts Of the statement of Gen.
Radcliffe as summing up the situation.
in that 1t points to the necessity for
supreme effort, without getting panic
stricken in the course of the struggle.
Especially does he reflect views re-
Deatedly expressed here when he says:
"The Germans are going on with this
process and we have got to
make up our minds that 1t is not this
week, or next week. or next month, that
his hght ia coming to q decision. We
are going to fight the whole summer.
and in the end 1t is a question of who
holds the last reserves"
In this statement officers also believe
hey see an indication that the present
'or defensive fighting. Reasons for
his do not include necessarily q dire
shortage of man power. But by thfs
,tyle of fghting in the face Of an on
,laught of the present proportions It In
pointed out that lit is probable that re-
Ierves are being scattered all along the
inc. French are in the thick of the
light in Flanders as, well as before
Amiers.
Speed with which troops are being
rought from Italy Is not known here.
he number of Italian troops available
night have a considerable bearing on
len. Foch,s plans. Their availability,
n turn. depends upon the pressure be-
ng exerted on the italian front by Aus
ria, and how far the Italian civilian