Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-15
kUHN'S WAR REVIEW
Continued from Third Page.)


fore this citadel, the center Of Ger
many's greatest iron producing region.
is taken.
Though 1t is announced that the
Americans today are fighting at the
thre hold
Americans May OF Germany
Strike Into Germany. scored a
wonderful victory for such short
period of fighting, it is believed that
the present operations are but fore
runners of a great concerted move
ment intended to strike well into
Germany. Undoubtedly demoraliza-
ton would be acute and the junker
war leaders would have to go far
Their, much farther. than they have
in Quieting the wrath of the peoples
or settling their taught nerves.
From strictly military viewpoint
the American effort is important for
the reason that, rather than have
the Americans progress within Ger
m man borders. with the train of troubles
that would result thereform, Luden-
dorn must swing back to this section of
the line many of the units which
were sent away to bolster the crum-
ing defensive positions before the
French and the British farther west.
That the Americans realize they
, have much work before them before
they will have accomplished all de-
sired ends is indicated by gigantic
American preparations.
Practically the whole front is held
by the Americans and victories here
may be followed by offensive move
ments along that section of the front
stretching toward Switzerland, which
IN the final analysis would bring
grave menace to the whole Teutonic
me running to the west should the
americans advance to a point where
they could begin really serious flank
ing operations.
The terrain over which the Ameri-
cans have advanced is extremely diff
hcult. That they have advanced so
lous. they having to surmount a.
great natural obstacle as well as
tremendously strong prepared enemy
positions.
The great concentrations of Ameri-
can forces would indicate that during
the course of the fall and winter OPP
erations will be pressed home to linn
its possibly as yet undreamed of to
the cursory follower of current
events.
Undoubtedly the American drive is
| but one of a series of blows in Field
Marshal Foch's consistent policy of
striking the enemy and continuing to
! strike at points where most can be
gained. Just as soon as the British and
| French efforts in the direction of
Cambria, St Quentin and Laon showed
| signs of tarrying owing to evil
! weather conditions and the necessity
| of re-establishing and building up
communication lines for still further
| offensive endeavors. Foch gave the
| signal for the American effort.
x
Though unquestionably Pershing's
successful drive has been one Of the
big events of the
British and French war, the fact
Also Press Ahead MAINS main .'A thst the the
British forces have accomplished
| ping the Hun during the past week.
| The British drew their forces closer
to Douai, which point, it is reported
! is being swiftly evacuated by the
Germans, also Cambria and st. Quent-
| in. The British have swept far over
the old German defensive switch
! lines, and menacing the enemy's hold
| on the Hindenburg positions further
| southwark. The British now are with
| in five miles of st. Quentin. while
French forces operating to the south
| west of st. Quentin have drawn to
within four miles of the city in a
series of sharp thrusts. Just as the
| British swept east of the Canal du
Nord to the north the French went
! over the st. Quentin canal to the
south. these two important water
| ways being the ones behind which
| the enemy hoped to build up an i'm
| pregnable defense.
! In so far as accomplishing Foch's
eventual end of driving back the Ger.
man center and pivot of the enemy's
entire western line, the French opera.
| lions in the region of La Fere, where
| they have drawn to within less thar
! two miles of this town, are important
The French completely dominate this
point and it's fall is a matter of but
comparatively few days. When the.
have accomplished this the French i'm.
mediately will have it within theil
power tosmenace Laon from the NORTH
| and eventually outflank the famou:
| st. Gobain bastion south of the Laon
| which in the final analysis is the Ger
mans chief defensive point along the
| old Hindenburg line.
| In direct operations to enVelop TIT
st, Gobain massif the French have
progressed eastward in the direction
of LaffauX and along all that iron
south of the Disc, save that sector i'm
mediately in front of the bastion po'
sitions. and even here slight advance:
| have been recorded in the face o.
whitening enemy fire. So important l:
| this st. Gobain position that the Ger
mans have sent up relnforcementS u
| insure it's retention and have delivered
! several tremendous counter attacks
The French have not given an men
though these offensive efforts OF the
| enemy tended to slow down earlier II
| the week French progress toward th'
! northeast, where it would be possible
| to flank the whole German line on th'
Aisue as we'll as future positions OF
| the Chemin des, Danes.
| The Chemin deS Danes positions are
| the immediate logical line of German
defense and even captured enemy OF
ficers anticipate early withdrawal tt
them, The latest French offensive
however, soon may make these posi-
! lions untenable.
with the French on the Aisne from
| and during the course of the pas
| week have materially improved thel1
| positions, but no great successes haV'
| been scored. Some German attack!
/! have been repulsed quickly. Mucf
greater progress must be scored herr
IF the Germans are to immediatel!
| withdraw to the Chemin des Danes
but owing to the character of the ter
rain. Marshal Foch probably deems i
wise to desist in too expensive opera
| tions until the German line can III
forcibly adjusted through operation!
above north and south of the western
edge of the st. Gobain heights from
and above Laon.
Marshal Foch has committed him
self to a series OF intensive offensive
operations and declares the enem!
will be given no surcease from trying
moments. AS a consequence it gen
orally is belived in London and Pari
that the allies will keep hammerins