New-York tribune., 1918-05-14

drive, which was somewhat disappoint-
ing in the hope that weak spot In the
Allied line might be discovered, devel-
oped into more serious adventure
than was expected and necessitated
heavy and repeated reinforcement.
While Amiens must still be regarded
as the principal object in the drive
toward the Channel ports and the place
where the heaviest fighting may soon
be expected, vet the Germans have gone
far enough in the north to have ac-
qured a Valuable foothold. For it they
paid so dearly that it is a question
whether they will pursue that small
local success still further with shock
troop waves and with increased, fresh
divisions on chance Of cutting the
Ypres salient, or whether they will
press forward with equal determina-
ton and recklessness of man cost on
the main Amiens plan.
May Quit Mount KENNEL
There is even talk that they may
withdraw from Mount KENNEL, which
the Allies have been making wellnigh
untenable by increased shelling. Hav-
ing got there at all, it seems as if they
must go on taking the remainder of the
hill system or relinquish it to become
another No Mans Land.
Thus for the moment the situation
is deadlocked. Meanwhile the British
and Germans are practically back in
their 1914 relative positions, on the
Ypres salient, with some advantage of
each side over four years ago.
In KENNEL the Germans have an OBJ
servaton point from which they can
direct the artillery fire over the entire
area inside the salient, which they did
not have in 1914 or 1915. But the
British now have strong, thoroughly
of men and an inadequate supply of
guns and ammunition. In addition, they
have the backing of the French, with
Americans coming all the time as
reserve.
The Allies have all confidence in
their ability to hold this section of
the line against the Germans fercest
onslaughts, first, because Of their sue
cessful resistance, under the heaviest
born mbardment of the war, of the Ger
man closely following waves with their
enormous life sacrifices, and, second,
because of the feeling that Ypres is
the German hoodoo.
This is the fourth struggle for this
town, which is now scarcely more than
a name on the map. The first was in
British line held back the German over
wheiming numbers marching on Calais.
The second was in April 1915, which
signalized the Boche's use of gas for
the first time in the war ana which
might have been successful but for the
great fighting of the Canadians.
The third struggle was last year,
when the British started their eastern
offensive in weather so unfavorable as
to destroy it's full force.
So long a Locre, in the vale between
KENNEL and Rouge, is held by the
French, the German way is blocked.
Even should Locre fall, there remain
five other hills, equally difficult to
must pay an equally top price in men.
Advance Costly
This is point to consider in the
studies of the battles course, while
map lines are vague and often mis-
leading.
1t seems certain that however much
the Germans augment their forces in
this sector, their advance, if any, will
be slow and at great outpouring of
German blood.
Chief attention, therefore, may we'll
be turned again to the Amiens front,
where. though the Germans are con-
tinuously striving, no gain has re-
warded their initial one. The battling
exchanges of recent days before AL
bert have favored the Allies, while
farther south and all the way to Mont
didier the Allied lines have been i'm
proved in preparation for new show
ing of the Boche hand in the neigh
borhood south of Arras.
While the Germans are making up
their mind whether to stick it out on
KENNEL or try their luck elsewhere
the Allied strategical positions every
where remain unchanged and the lines
are being strengthened.
Although the weather, on the whole,
has been highly favorable this entire
month for airplanes, the Allies still
their work, especially that of the Brit
ish, is nothing short of remarkable.
In April they brought down 470 Boche
planes, with a far smaller loss to
themselves.
The most satisfactory feature of the
recent successful fighting is the small
ness of the Allied forces as compared
with the Germans. The Allies have
not only broken the German flood with
much fewer men. but they have kept
their reserves IN accordance with this
programme.
A distinguished French painter of
war scenes, just returned from the
front, yesterday related that a French
general whom he asked what proper
ton of men was required to repel the
Boche, replied: Zone to two"
While the last month gives ample
cause to marvel at the great defence
against tremendous odds and grounds
for faith in the Allied strength to hold
the Boche in the future, nevertheless
it has been filled with anxious days
in this battle which is just beginning
and which will last en- through the
summer.
The Boche surely will not relinquish
his purpose to hammer out success
if it lies within his utmost power, for
on it rest his hopes of winning the
war.