South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-14
BY FRANK II. SIMONDS
'NeWS-TimeS and Associated Newspapers
Military Expert.

price was increased by the fact that German heavy ar
tllery not yet up and French and British guns o.
al calibres were in position. BY the third Sunday
the battle, the German EFFORT both TANKS
ed down with real gain the north and no decis-
i've gain the south although the AmensCslais rail-
road no longer disable and barely two miles dis
tant from the German front
In sum then, toward the end OF the third week. The
German stin far his major end. separa-
ton of the British and French armies He had won
great administered to one strony British
army perhaps the heaviest defeat in British military
history. He had advanced beyond any expectation OF
the allies, he approaching Amiens although at a
slow he paid 100000 casualties
local success and there the smallest promise
that he could bring home Sedan Waterloo.
dscOyerable the face of the situation. Rather there
growing likelihood o. a second Verdun
And the German must have not a local victory but
decisive victory, military solution of the problem OF
the war. He has confessed that he must have it at
once, by the under which he challenged
and enlisted his people. If he is before Amiens
a e campaign. pro
vided he continues the battle in this feld
a major triumph n other he gets beyond
Amens without separating his two foes, he viii have
failed, if they still able united before him.
He another local success great as
triumph win what he sought win and nothing else
will greatly help him now.
Allied prospects have greatly improved since there
was an eleventh hour agreement upon a single CON-
ought been agreed upon last winter.
but it was blocked by British military influence despite
Lloyd George. America, France
Italy fsaOred it, but the British influences post
poned until the interviewed. After
the defeat there could be argument by Brit
ish military authorities since it was the failure of the
British which brought defeat which nearly "A
disaster. Foch prominently the for the place.
other French general and British Italian gem
eral-and least of all American general could chal-
lenge the achievement Of the who saved Nancy,
won the Marine and blocked the German drive TO the
channel with the aij of the British and Belgians.
1t is possible to regret the ateness of the decision
the task of the generassmo has been great
~ increased thereby all this the
public utterances he has given the best
that he did too late.
American participation. Acceptins
NJ Tardieus figures of time ago
have least 100000 men in France. OF these
told 100000 have started for the somme front ana
other divisions relieving French
the smallest reckoning. Presumable then.
putting around 100000 at the service of the
allies. This a small number, this goes.
5 equal a French recruits half a
the annual increment OF the German army and.
since the men are picked it is unquestonably better
in it's material than either French German
Again if the allies have lost 100000 in the opening
phase second battle Of the Somme the gap has
been promptly filled by American troops. The German
on the other hand having lost between 100000 and
10000 in the operation must find the troops 70
replace wasage Of his own reserves He can do it,
He probably upwards Of 100000 reserves 10 re-
place wasage when the campaign began. but the
exhaustion him is thus faster than his
opponents and henceforth under the wise plan put
our troops in promptly brgaded with French
and British troops we aid regularly 10 replace
allied wastase. while the Germans stil rely
clusvely upon his power.
We are only beginning but our start is at critical
moment and aid is by no means negligible. on the
contrary may enable the British and the French to
reconstitute army Of maneuvre II seems possible
a large part Of the original force drawn in 20 nh
the gaps created by the the NTH British
As TO the moral effect, mistake the admir-
able impression made by American entrance. At
critical moment the German has failed first TO separ-
ate the peoples OF his other enemies. The alliance
AGAINST Germany is stronger today than any
ment since Russia fell and We in some small
beginning 10 replace Russia.
Set this against the battle disaster
fowly escaped by the allies il has a real value.
Couple with il the failure Of the German
egy 10 realize man objective and the reason
confidence is clear France lost Charerol ana won the
Marine Britain has lost the second battle OF The
somme but Britain, France and America ale AN iu
line once and the German advance has. az least
slowed down on what all right side h.s
objective have not produced his downfall. 5ut he
hasn't yet come a his world power. We UaIt as
allied strategy contenplates. We aat Petaiu
waited verdun until the British were ready. fin-
del Ms fnf al