New-York tribune., 1918-08-05

that the Germans are much shorter OF
men than we had supposed.
Big Artillery Bluff
Their advance on the west of
1'helms was big artillery bluff which
could only have been justified by the
success of the attack on the east Of it.
That attack failed, and though Won
boehn tried for couple of days to
cloak the failure, the moment General
retain struck from the west the Ger
mans had no option, with the force at
their disposal, but to retire And they
nave made such a good job Of it.
Ludendorff calls the operation a
strateglcal success. No; it is not that
~ Is great strategical failure, re-
lleved by various tactical successes, and
II may not be too soon to say that the
failure, even retrieved as it has been,
probably spells ruin to the German
offensive, for this season at least,
against Paris.
True, they have an attack they may
deliver in Flanders almost any moment
precht's reserves have not been drawn
upon too largely in the German Crown
Princes interest. But October is likely
to be the earliest date for any vital
operations here, and October means
some half million more. of these ex-
cellent Americans in the line.
The extreme weakness of Luden-
dorff's strategical success was exhibited
yesterday. A great general with a
strategical success on his hands had
an opportunity Yesterday for big tao
tlcal blow which surely would have
tempted him had not some serious
reasons intervened The German re-
tlrement was rapid, and the Allied pur-
suit, IN order to keep pace with it, was
forced to outrun the protection of its
heavy guns.
Hindered by Rain
"The roads, which had been ankle
deep IN dust, were churned by the pas
sage of the troops into mud, which
slowed the progress of everything on
wheels. The day with its heavy clouds
and thunder showers was difficult for
aircraft observation and our cavalry
patrols were far from numerous.
1T was most tempting moment for
counter stroke, which would have
been certain to inhict heavy losses and
put pretty political finish to that
strategical retirement which has so
depressed Berlin.
yet LudendorT refraincd. WHY i?
Well, two reasons suggest themselves.
Either be had never the reedful force
at his disposal, or defensive attitude
10 the north Of the Aisne having been
decided on, the troops required to
cover the retirement had been cut
down to the lowest possible numbers
and every available division was being
turned round to Flanders for the long
deferred attack on the British front,
for which all things bad been in readi-
ness since the end Of June. A success
there would have important conse-
Quences and would cover up the failure
here. And once back on the Chemin
des Danes, Won Boehn's defeated army
would have time to recoup itself.
"The key to yesterdays interest was,
CT course, SCISSORS. And scissors pre-
sented a sorry spectacle when the AL
lies entered it. The Germans had, as
usual, vented their spite upon it, de-
stroying with the same deliberate in
exhibited in so disgraceful manner
at Chateau Thierry Houses had been
despoiled of all that had made them
homes. Everything had been flung into
the streets. The western suburbs had
been RACED to the ground and the ca
thedral was but phantom of it's for
mer beauty
"And what has happened to scissors
has happened everywhere in the track
Of the Hun. The Grown Princes proud
boast is amply justified. His shame
less troops have devastated another re-
gion of France. They have left their
flames and ruin everywhere behind
them, proving themselves worthy Of
their worst ancestors and no whit al
tered by thousand years of Christen-
don,