New-York tribune., 1918-10-12
Military Comment
by William l.. Mcpherson
Copyright. 1918. Now Yort Tribune Inc.)
4 LII THE BIG and little KINGS

4 LII THE BIG and little kings.
~ grand dukes and reigning
princes in Germany have
been summoned to Berlin to sit in
inquest on Ludendorff's strategy
The staggering loosngs in the colos-
sal gamble of the German 1918 Of
fensive have not yet been liquidated.
How are they to be liquidated?
That is the real problem before
the council. The masquerade Of
democracy and parliamentarian-
ism,' which is being staged for the
benefit Of impressionable paciists
outside Germany, is a side issue.
The great question for the men who
rule Germany to-day is to get the
German armies now in France back
to the Belgian border, and then
back across the Rhine. If they get
back under the safe-conduct of an
a1mistice, as a preliminary to peace,
Germany will continue to submit to
Hohenzollernism, whatever camou-
faged form of government may be
established. IF they don't get back
all the spas in Switzerland will be
crowded with German kings, grand
dukes and dukes of lesser degree in
exile.
If the council should take a secret
Ballot on the value Of Ludendorff's
achievements in France there would
undoubtedly be a nearly unanimous
agreement that he was a Bliicher
and Moltke rolled in one-as quar-
termaster general.
While the Grand High Quarter
master is in Berlin his armies are
continuing their victorious retire
ent." The Allies, having taken LIE
Cateau, are now closing in on Guise.
British and American troops have
penetrated the Forest of Ardigny,
working toward Wassigny, which
lies six miles north of Guise Cen
eral Debeny's First French Army
has cleared the west bank Of the Oise
up to the bend just northwest of
this important German base. The
French have also crossed the Disc at
several points below Guise and are
approaching it from the south. The
Disc has therefore ceased to be a
barrier to the completion of the
turning movement directed against
the west side Of the Laon salient.
Directly south of Laon, too, the
German line is giving way. The
French yesterday morning had
cleared all but small section at the
eastern end Of the Chemin des
Dames-that between Cerny-en-
Lacnnois and Craonne. Unofficial
reports from Paris yesterday said
that the Germans were on the point
Of evacuating the Forest of st. Co.
balm, which has been nearly sur
rounded. After it goes Laon will 60.
In tn "Dry" Champagne General
Gouraud's army has advanced to
within two miles of Vouzicrs. This
was formerly an important point on
one Of the lateral railroad systems
linking up Laon with the Argonnc
and Meusc Valley front. 1t is such
no longer, for all the lateral lines
directly back Of the old Hindenburg
zone in this region have been sew
cred. The Grand Pre- pass, at the
northern end Of the Argunne, has
also been closed by a junction Of
French and American forces at
Grand Pre-. Each German army east
of Laon has now to shift for itself
in the retreat northeast toward the
Belgian frontier. There is no
through connecting link now left in
the German rear from Valenciennes
toward the Meuse, except the lateral
line which runs from Vaenciennes
through LIE Quesnoy, Arenncs and
Llart to the Upper Aisne Valley,
east Of Rethel.
AS General March r,oip+oj o,,A -