New-York tribune., 1918-07-28


(The Neec York Trtbune)
TITO UNDERSTAND what is 60
ing on as a sequel to the
Allied victory of July 18 one
must appreciate that the enemy is
trying to "extricate" himself We
must understand this word extricate.
Take an arc not much more than
twenty-five miles across and less
than twenty miles deep. Imagine on
that arc no less than at least thirty
five divisions crammed with their
material, their accumulated dumps
for shells, their artillery, including
the heaviest pieces, their stores of
food and provisions and all prepara-
tions for what was on July Is the
great offensive movement.
One must realize that each of
those thirty-fve divisions means at
least 5000 infantrymen and some
5000 others, less only by the dead,
wounded and prisoners; and all this
huge mass cramped in so narrow a
space is compelled to retire through
two points where the roads of the
district meet, Fere-en-T -Tardenois and
Ville-en-Tardenois, both of which
are under direct fire at compara-
lively short range, while the whole
arc is under converging fire from
every side.
That is the situation at the pres
ent moment on the Crown Princes
left. A more expensive one could
not be conceived. The mouth of the
pocket is not so narrow that the
troops within are doomed. Far from
it, The mouth, as any one can see
by looking at map, is broader than
deep. But what the defeated enemy
is condemned to by his position is
enormous losses in proportion to
those Of his victorious assailants. lie
has 10 counter attack ceaselessly in
order to preserve the centres Of sup
ply and retreat behind him from be-
Ing reached. And, as | have said,
he is under converging fire the whole
time.
Greatest Victory
Since That of Marne
The battle which has been fought
since July IS, though its full effects
are not yet apparent, is the most
clear cut episode that we have had
upon the Western front since the
victory of the Marne. l will de-
scribe it as best / can.
After pause of month, imposed
upon them by their very heavy
losses, especially those on April 20,
the Germans effected a very com
plete surprise and scored success
on May II which might have led to
the very gravest consequences. They
struck at front of about thirty
five miles north of the line uniting
the towns of Soissons and Rheims.
The very strong position known as
the Chemin DIES Danes, which was in
the hands of the Allies, was broken
at once AT the first onset the
enemy poured through a wide gap,
took many thousands of prisoners
and hundreds of guns, and in an ex-
ceedingly rapid advance in less than
three days reached the Marne at
Chateau Thierry.
At one blow he had produced a
bulge, pocket or salient, somewhat
over thirty miles in length and also
about thirty in depth. He had de-.
stroyed yet another sector of the old
permanent front, and upon vet an
other new line Of over eighty miles
Counting the whole of the wav
around from Rheims to the Marine
near Dormans down to Chateau
Thlerry and up to scissors AGAIN.
he had condemned the defence to
the dangerous chance of maintain
ing itself in rapidly made trenches
and to the hurried stemming of the
tide of the German attack by put
ting in everything available in the
neighborhood.
Success Put Allies
In a Corner
Furthermore, this great success
was probably unexpected upon the
enemy's part, at least upon any such