The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-07-26
German Commanders Order
Men to Hold While Defensive
Position is Preparing.
PREPARE TO RETREAT
Strike by Allies at Vital Point
Would Prove Fatal to Huns
l. Present Position.
ASSOCIATED Press.)

With the French Army In France,
July 26.-The entire German position
within the Marne salient is such that
It may fall at any instant as the re-
suit of some sharp forward movement
by the allies affecting a vital part. II
is for this reason that the German
commanders have ordered their men to
hold on at all costs while defensive
position Is prepared upon which the
German armies can fall back.
Day after day the allies. now the
French. now the Americans, and now
the British are encroaching upon the
triangular salient. at some places max
Ing deep dents In the enemy positions
and at others progressing more slowly.
Every line of communication within
the German salient is under lombard :
ment night and day. either from the
allied artillery or airplanes.
It is only with the greatest difficulty
and with heavy sacrifices that the
enemy Is able to hold on within this
area. -
All the while his men are suffering
terrible privations. owing TO the un-
certainty of obtaining supplies. In
consequence of the allies commanding
virtually every road and every path,
the fatigued German units cannot be
renewed even when they are sorely
tried.
A retrospective glance at the entire
battle since the Germans tried to cross
the Marne in their great effort to
Dreak up the French armies shows
that the crown prince. thinking the
French exhausted by the terrific de-
fensive battles they fought during
March. April. May and June. had de-
cided to launch fresh offensive. He
was so confident of success that he
did not endeavor to hide his prepara- =,
lions.
When Gems. Won Einem. Won Mu-
dra, Won Boehm and Won Eben started
the attack on the night OF July II they
expected to overcome all resistance
and easily capture Montmirail Eper.
nay and Chalons. Gen. Petain, how
ever. had prepared another plan. which
was presented to Generalissimo Foch
I on July ~ and which was approved
th4 following day.
The idea was to abandon advanced
posts and hold the principal line of
!, resistance with only the absolutely
4 ,essential forces, and in the meantime
y prepare to sprinEga counter offensive
ssUp the Germans iunk when the en-
efny troops were fully engaged in the
battle Eastward OF Rheims the exc
cution OF Gen. Petain's plan was Ia
fored by strong old positions. but to
the westward OF that city the problem
!. vas complicated because the organi-
4ation OF the ground held by the
z French had not been completed. When
the battle opened, however, and oppos
ing plans were put to the test. that of
Den. Petain proved itself superior to
the others. The French, Americans
British and Italians co-operated In
3 whole-hearted way and completely
upset the crown princes grandiose
pYOjcct. The result was the utter de-
feat and discontinue of the German
armies, which were Obliged to employ
mnny divisions which had been re-
served for later blows.
The allied counter offensive was re-
markably we'll prepared and executed.
It struck Mt the right place and at
the proper time. The Germans are now
very anxious regarding the positions
OF their great army between the Aisne
and the Mnrne. It is for this reason
that they are fighting with such des-
peration.
The present moment for them Is one
of the most critical of the war, since
the allies possess the initiative and
the rapidly increasing American army
enables them to undertake operations
which would otherwise be impossible.
The fighting will continue to be very
severe as the ground which the Ger
mans occupy is very suitable for a de-
fensive hattie. but their resistance is
costing them dearly. Their difficulties |
are being augmented every day, and II !
is probable that they will be compelled |
10 think hard before starting any other |
offensive action. even II its object Is |
only to relieve the situation.