New-York tribune., 1918-06-02
Paris, Channel Ports and
Division of Armies Ger
man Aims, Declares
Gen. Bridges
Allies Task Now
To Save Man Power
Four Factors Enabled Foe
to Make His Attack One
of Surprise

WASHINGTON, June 1.-The Allies
fensive resumed in the north soon
or else to see German divisions from
the north sent down to exploit the new
success, said General Bridges, head of
a special British military mission, to-
day. The battle, he added, is likely
to continue for weeks, and will become
I long drawn out struggle of man.
power, with the first duty of the AL
lies to husband their resources by
giving ground for men where possible.
While now on a narrow and danger
Gus salient, said the general, the Ger
mans will be in a favorable position
for advance on Paris should they be
successful in pushing out the west leg
of the salient and joining it up with
the Anxious salient That, he said, ap-
peared to be their intention, as they
could be expected to call halt at the
Marne.
In making his statement General
Bridges was emphatic in saying that
he could make no reliable appreciation
of the situation until news was re-
ceived as to the distribution of the
German reserve and as to whether
identification had been obtained of any
divisions being withdrawn from other
sectors of the front to take part in the
drive.
"The objectives now before the
| Germans" he said, "appear to be
| threefold: First, the capture of Paris.
second, the division of the main Allied
armies by an advanced through
Amiens, and third, the capturing of
the Channel ports.
The present attack" he continued,
appears to have come as surnrise
One of the reasons for this, was no
doubt. that it was not considered by the
Allies as a decisive direction for a
major operation, because of the posi-
blllty, on this sector, of giving an
amount of ground that would be fatal,
either at Amiens or Ypres.
The Germans have also concealed
tnelr preparations extremely we'll
aided, probably by four factors: a.
their preponde number Of divi.
slons; (2) the fact that they are work,
ing. with good railway system on in
terror lines; (3) that there are woods
around Laon in close proximity to their
frst obJectives, where large numbers
OF troops could be concealed; (4 the
fact that this long front had been or
gained for attack"
Sixteen Divisions in First Attack
AS the Germans commenced the at-
TACK with only sixteen divisions +
would appear that it has been moro
successful than they Anticipated II ia
probable that it was at first intendeJ
either in the nature of a secondary
operation in order to draw Allied re.
serves from the we'll protected Am;ens
sallent or to strike heavy blow for
ene Marne IN order to cut the main
communications C between Paris and
Chalons, and to widen the too morrow
Amlens salient by a fresh oneration
The German higher command nroh-
ABLY considered in this case that the
presence OF large forces in. front of
such vital points as Ypres and Amiens
had pinned the bulk Of the Allied re-
serves to these positions. While thew
are at present in narrow and danger
Gus salient, the Germans. should thev
ne successful in pushing out the west
reg OF 1T and joining it up to the
Amiens salient which appears to be
their intention, will be in a favorable
p0sltlon Tor an advance on Paris. The
AIIled command. however, has not been
Idle and so far the flanks of the salient
seem to have held we'll and reserves
are joining up. AS far as penetration
goes the Germans may be expected to
call a halt at the Marne.
we must now be prepared either
to see the offensive resumed in the
north at no distant date Or else to
see German divisions from the north
sent down to exploit the new success
until the movements of reserves have
been established it is idle to forecast
The battle is likely to continue for
weeks and will become a long drawn
out struggle of man power. The Allies
first duty will be to economic the;r
reserves and husband their resources
TO give ground for men where nos
slhle for the final decision will 90
with the last reserves.
Half the Effect Spent
1T is doubtful if more than half Of
tne eighty divisions which we estimate
the enemy had in general reserve have
yet been absorbed in the present hat-