Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1918-07-18

Believe Germans VIII Abandon
West Front Drive II Often
Slve Is Failure
RHEIMS CAPTURE SECONDARY
Six Great Allied StrOnghOIdS
Bar Path OF Invaders to
French Capital

LONDON, July 1S:-The German
offensive now under way on the west
ern front is the kaiser's final and su-
preme effort.
II it succeeds completely, Paris will
be under siege. 1t Is inconceivable
that the French capital. the strongest
fortified city in the world, can be
captured, but it is placed by the pres
ent offensive in the most serious peril
It has faced since 1870.
If the drive fails, it will be the last
German offensive of this year. The
kaiser will abandon his fight for Paris,
order his armies to dig in, and turn
his attention to the eastern front.
Unquestionably Paris is the immo-
diate objective of the drive. Rheims
lis a secondary objective. Its fall
would merely wipe out an ugly sall-
ent in the German line, from which
the allies could menace the German
flanks.
For this reason the battle was be-
gun to the east of Rheims as well as
west of it, to encompass the city and
wipe out the peril to the flanks of the
advancing German army. With Its
capture the Germans will throw the
whole force of their blow at Paris.
Defenses Before Paris.
There are two strongly fortified
towns held by the French south and
southeast of Rheims which will hold
up the German advance for some
time. These are Epernay and Cha1-
ons-sur- -Marne. Near the latter city
an American force is in the battle
line.
II the Germans can drive the allies
from these two towns. the way is
open before them for a crossing of
the Marne on the whole front before
Paris. and another sweep to the south
of the river such as took place In
1914.
Before Paris, however, are four
other large cities which the Germans
must capture before their menace to
form sort of outlying defense ssys-
tenn to the capital, covering a front
of some fifty miles.
These are Compiegne, known as
the gate to Paris" which the Ger
mans tried vainly to reach last
month; Senlis. which lies on the river
Nonette, twenty-three miles north
east of Paris; Meaux, an equal dis
tance east OF Paris on the Marine, and
Coulommiers, on the Grand NORM,
ten miles southeast of Meaux.
Reserves Are Ready.
Meaux already is under lombard
ment by long-range naval guns. It
was the point nearest to Paris reached
by the Germans In their great rush
on the capital in 1914. On the line
from Compiegne to Meaux, Gen. Foch
Is believed TO have marshalled his re-
serves In expectation OF the German
attack.
That Gen. Foch expected the drive
to come on this front was shown by
the fact that the "nibbling" tactics
he has adopted after each OF the four
1918 German drives were this time
being brought into play on this front
ha ENrQnHh M Qrg4 fg1.
reserves are massed behind Ii, TO be
thrown in when Gen. Foch puts his
hand on the map, as he did in March,
and says:
This far they will advance. and
no farther!"
Like the last two offenses. there was
little element of surprise in the cur
rent attack. 1t was expected on the
front where 1t came. II there was
any surprise at all about 1t. it lay in
the fact that the drive came a few
days before IL was expected.
This. II is believed, WIS due TO the
Russian situation. The German war
chiefs had planned to deliver their
final great smash about July 20, but
the activity of the allies in meeting
the German threats in Russia forced
a change In plans TO center the atten-
ton Of the allies on the western front.
The Kaiser's Offensive"
The last offensive was known in
Germany as The Crown Princes Of
fensive." 1t is likely that this one
viii be called The Kaisers Own Of
fensive," for Wilhelm has craftily
paved the way for giving the Hohen-
zollern dynasty personal credit for the
capture OF Paris We may expect in
a day or so TO read that the kaiser
himself Is again at the front.
The story Of the death of Won Hin
denburg lends credence TO this belief.
The tale Is believed IN London 20 have
been part of the German propaganda
to deceive the allies into a false sense
of security, which has preceded every
German drive this year.
If Hindenburg is really dead, II is
considered certain that his death oc-
CURED some time ago, and that the
news was suppressed until Just be-
fore the opening OF the drive, when
70 best advantage IN camouhaging
their purpose.
The great question military observ-
ers are now asking is How long will
II take Foch 70 stop the advance ?"
The Picardy drive. which began
March 2l, was stopped IN tust one
week. after the Germans had ad-
drive started April Q. was stopped in !
ten days, requiring the longer period |
because II came unexpectedly.
Allies May Strike Back
The drive OF May 81 on the Cham |
payne front. however. reached tts |
greatest extent in five days. and was
IN six In the fourth effort OF |
the Germans between Noyon and |
Chateau Thierry. begun June 10. Gen. |
Foch had stopped the enemy IN three |
days and Was eounter-attacking.
Thus II Is clear that Foch has
raised his system of maneuvering re- |
serves 20 such a state OF perfection |
that in each offensive they are thrown |
in in less time than in those previous |
At present he has $4,000 or go, 600 |
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