The Washington herald., 1918-08-30
/.
LINE now is
UNTENABLE
War. Experts Here Regard
1t as Unmaintainable for
Retreating Huns.
TO SHELL RHINE TOWNS
Americans to Have Vital
Part in Next Pressing
Back Foe.

The Hindenburg line is no
longer tenable.
This is the Judgment of the
military observers at the War
Department. 1t is added that the
certain failure of the Germans to
hold that part of the line extend
ing from a point opposite Rheims
to Laon will be due largely to the
American troops operating out OF
Fismes. -
1t was pointed out yesterday
that the British having crossed
the Hindenburg line east of Croi-
selles. the thrust that will make
the line absolutely untenable is
the American thrust which is now
menaeing that part of it east Of
Fismes. The part that the French
are playing to bring about the
complete abandonment of the line
is the extension Of their salient
between Nesle and Licourt.
| Deepest Salient Yet.
This. IL the deepest salient that has
been effected. by any OF the allies
Ior Americans since the counter Of
fensiys Of the mid-July days. 1t IA
claimed that the efficient work in
this salient was done by the French
l without any assistance from the
British or the Americans. South of
.Soisscrls, however. In the last re-
ported advance, the Americans were
forging ahead shoulder to shoulder
with the French.
| The French advance against The
territory controlled by the Hinden-
burg line Is most difficult. 1t Is nov
fronted by forests, which as a gem
eral rule are harder to carry than
! entertainments in the open. 1t Is
realized that the maintenance of the
| French advance in this salient is
just as essential as the push of the
| British to the north and the Amer
leans to the south: but 1t was stated
yesterday that he advance of he
sAmericans is the big factor at this
time. A continuation Of their pres
| ent stride in force Is certain, the
military judgment. to force the
( crumpling up of the German left
wing, which effect Is now Seriously
threatened as to their right wing by
the British.
Enaeement Of the Line.
The strategists here were, not will
fng~to go any further yesterday than
to prophesy the effacement Of the
Hindenburg line. Beyond that they
say there is big problem which will
depend on the reinforcements of the
German decimated divisions,
Military men seem to have but one
/ opinion OF yeiled threat which Is
contained in an interview with the
German Lieut.. Gen. Baron Won Arm
dele. which comes via Amsterdam.
The threat is that Germany has some
thing in reserve which Is to turn the
present debacle into a new German
offensive. The American military
opinion Is that the threat is:
First. either a bold. colossal bluff:
or.
Second. the assumption that Ger.
many will be able to force the Rus
slams and other conquered nations
to send troops to the battlefield to
save the Rhine.
Probably n Blur.
The great majority opinion Is that
! the menace OF the German general
Is simply bluff and that probably
the German soldiers have been told
already that there is vast man power
coming from the east. II is stated by
the experts. however. that German
efforts to I'LL her levies from Lithua-
nian. Esthonian and Livonian sources
are known to have failed.
The German divisions already in
action have been cut up and prison.
ers. II is specifically pointed out. have
been taken at all points from the
switzerland border to the Channel
Ports, and none but Germans have
been among the prisoners. Yet it is
well known to the War Department
that the Germans tried recruiting in
the so-called conquered provinces.
1t Is argued that it will be inn
mensely more difficult now that
Germany Is losing to fall back for
self-defense TO points close to. the
hnine without giving the allies for
the present an opportunity to shell
the Rhine towns. The latter de-
Iveiopment seems to be absolutely.
certain. IL the wings of the Ger
man army are rolled back on the
center by the successful thrusts
now in sight by the British on the