The Washington herald., 1918-03-27

declaring that Germany has lost
Couldn't Hold Pace.
They say that the advance has
not been able to hold its pace in
the face OF heroic resistance. Sac
rifices Of German men which the
Paris papers describe as "brutish"
are confidently asserted to have been
in vain.
The battle. Il is predicted. will
tics OF the Entente.
The French critics declare that
the southern drive along the oise.
in the direction of Paris was in
tended by Crown Prince Rupprecht,
of Bavaria. to divert the attention
Of the British from the main often
sive north Of Peronne towards
Amiens.
This plan was Frustrated, says the
Petit Journal. because the French
promptly took over the Disc sector.
They permitted the British to de-
vote their whole attention to the
defeat Of the main operation. while
the gallant poilus along the Olse
made the Germans pay dearly for
their advance in that section.
Journal Comment.
The Petit Journal says:
ct appears now that while at
lacking from the beginning on the
whole front, the Germans have
brought their principal efforts to
bear to the west OF st. Quentin. In
thus acting they have wished to
unset the English. reach the Somms
and to secure for themselves in this
direction q route to Amiens. which
they want at all costs to possess In
order to separate the English from
the French armies.
1t IL for this object that the German
center has made for three days such
gigantic efforts. Hindered by the
force Of a heroic resistance made by
the English, Prince Rupprecht. Of Ba-
varia, always with the idea Of reach
ing Amiens. determined to relax his
program by passing around the OBJ
struction to the north.
1T Is thus that he ordered his right
wing, operating north Of Peronne, to
engage itself completely. Under the
furious blows of the assault the Eng
lish have been obliged to withdraw,
but the obstinacy with which they
have fought has made it possible to
take the necessary measures to op-
pose the plans of the enemy in the
south.
Plans Disturbed.
"FinalIy, the left wing, operating
south of st. Quentin. appears to have
had for its mission to effect a diver
sion in order to favor the march to-
wards Amiens. Prince Rupprecht ex-
pected undoubtedly that his troops
marching in the direction Of Paris
would absorb the attention OF the ad-
versary. But the intervention of the
French troops has disturbed this CAL
culation.
"Our Poilus although much less
numerous have replaced the English
on this sector so that our allies can
dispose of all their reserves to con-
tinue the fight on the other sector.
As for our Poilus. from the moment
of their entry into the line. in spite
of their numerical inferiority. have
set the enemy at bay, inflicting on
him terrific losses and only yielding
ground inch by inch under order OF
the commanders.
The defensive struggle Is cOutinu-
ing in war region north Of Noyon
Wnle WdlJlnB IOT l0e TlBHI iHOiHtIl
to give a counter thrust"
The official summary OF the press
comment says:
The French press continues to view
with calm confidence the develop
ments of the gigantic battle which
has been going on for five days.
This confidence Is based on all the
experiences of this war. Each time
- akNarrrNal
ment of troops in the West, this ef-
fort after a certain amount of sue
cess has ended in being broken against
the barrier of the allied armies.
Cite Preeedents.
The German example before all
minds is thatsthe Marne. where Ger
many had every advantage on her
side. thanks to her preparation, to the
superiority of her man power and her
heavy artillery and her hidden attack
across violated Belgium, but she was
defeated. Today she is fighting against
the powerful Franco-B British armies
accustomed to war and we'll supplied
Her effort will again be stopped.
such is the firm and calm convic-
tlon Of French opinion, the impress
sion Of which is seen this morning in
the press The Echo de Paris points
out in these terms all that depends
upon the allied armies.
I'm our political and private life.
contrary to what our enemies have
done, we have not subordinated every
thing to the supreme end OF military
attack or defense. We have given
more place to liberty Of inclination
and the fancy of each individual. We