Evening star., 1918-09-08
German Armies
in Deadly Peril.


scored during the past week nothing
will be left for the Germans but
evacuation Of the occupied sections of
northern France before extremely
trying winter conditions set in.
The old Hindenburg line will be
completely oveIrun within another
weak. When the Germans have lost
their defensive positions before Laon,
La Fere and st. Quentin they must
take up new line of defense on the
high ground to the east of Courtrai.
Tournai and Mons, thence in south
easterly direction toward Verdun.
1t must not be believed that greatest
resistance will not be shown to the
allies at all points. but that a new de-
fensive line far to the eastward will
be essential goes without question. A
defensive line at any point between
the Hindenburg line and the one in
Belgium will leave Teutonic armies
constantly subject to a debacle in
case the allies should see fit to defy
winter weather conditions and keep
on striking.
1t is vitally essential to the German
plan that they hold firm on the line
skirting Laon, La Fere and st. Quen-
been called the hinge of the whole
German defensive works on the west
ern front. Should either one of these
points fall it would Immediately cause
~ IeTI1stll L. SnOulQ all De
taken the German center of the whole
front will collapse.
That the Germans will have difficulty
IN retaining either of these vital points
before the impetuous forward movements
of the allies is certain.
The French and American successes
from the Eesle to the Disc were prob
ably the most noteworthy events of the
week. inasmuch as they have made more
acute the German dilemma. The Ger
mans have been forced directly north to
the Aisne from the more westerly
stretches Of the Vesle. From a poin.
where the French line turns north di-
rectly toward the River Disc, Gen. Man.
gins French and American forces have
fought series of tremendously i'm
portant engagements during the past
week. having captured Juvigny. Cha
vigny. Terny Sorry. Coucy y-le- Chateau
and Crecy-ar-Mont, all of which actions
have given the French good opportunity
to enflade the German positions. not
only between the Ailette and Aisne. but
along The Chenlin des Danes. where the
Germans are expected to make their
firmest stand.
French and American successes in
these regions undoubtedly viii be press
ed to the utmost in order that the Hin
denhurg line be reached Immediately to
the south of Laon. as it has been reach
ed by the French at Coucy.
X
have been hammering forward, making
extremely ra pi d
French Score progress. consider
fapid Progress. and m military Mill bar
riers that have arisen in their way. To-
day they are east of Tergnier, which is
but three miles from La Fere. It would
capture La Fere, the pinion of the
hinge. and in this Kramer they could
flank Laon from the north. co-ordi-
mating their operations, Of course,
with the French and American ar
mics moving through the quarry and
forest regions Immediately to the
south.
Farther northward the French have
captured Ham, an important commu-
nication center. and swept through
more than forty villages to the south
cast of Peronne, where their line
Joins with the British.
British forces continue their great
pressure east and southeast of Pc
rome in the direction of St Quentin.
Their lines are 80 close to the old
Hindenburg positions that the OVER
running of the Hindenburg line north
Of ST. Quentin Is an immediate possi-
bility. F1ankfng operations north of
St Quentin conducted in unison with
the French drive over La Fere would
mean that St. Quentin must be given
up.
Farther to the north the British
not only have completely overrun the
old Drocourt-Queant switch line dur
ing the week, but swept east Of the
second line of defensive positions in
this region. In all of their opera
lions from southeast of Peronne to
Ypres the British have scored steady
daily progress Of from two to seven
miles
IN FLANDERS the British have practi-
AaflY wiped out the old salient ef-
fected By the Germans in their spring
daa paa42 thaEWm 6Eva 1aGzined The
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