Evening star., 1918-06-01
by FRANK H. sIMoNDs.

Once more, as at Verdun in 1915 and
Of a German offensive marks the
crisis Of the whole operation. Indeed,
these major attacks seem to follow a
course as regular as that of some dis
ease. There is the onset, the break
ing Of the front and then. following
this, the rush through the gap. newly
opened. until the defender brings up
reserves and the assa4lant Loses the
advantage, ae surprlse ana numbers
'ss Z. shs I, tlSss Rfa n s..
tween the Aisne and the Marne is
this: At the outset the Germans tore
4 gap in the allied lines from craonne
at the eastern eud Of the plateau of
the Chemin des Dames to the high
ground north and west of Scissors.
which was the scene Of Petain's bril-
liant local victory In the battle Of
Malmaison. At the Aisne, when the
Germans crossed this stream, the gap
was rather more than thirty miles
wide, but by the time the German left
flank reached the Vesle it had mar
rowed to twenty.
Huns Pounding southward.
In Rheims and about soissons. the
allied line held. but between these
two pivots there seemed to be a COM
plete collapxe. and the Germans have
been,and still are pounding southwark
along tho two main highways be-
tween LAon and the Marne, one Of
which, reaches the Marne at Chateau
Thierry. the other at Dormans.
Along these roads Bulow advanced
to the battle Of the Marne and over
them he retired from Montmirail and
victories a century before. after the
success Of Foch at La Fere Cham
penofse.
For tho past two days the chief
effort Of French strategy has been
not to check tho German advance by
Germans from widening their wedge.
And in this the French have been so
far successful. Now, unless the Ger.
mans can widen their salient. which
between the Vesle and Scissors is
not moro than a dozen miles wide and
have to halt. but to retreat. SINCE
their tanks and rear are already
threatened.
Thrusting Into Narrow Pocket.
In a word. the Germans have been
and are thrusting into a narrow
pocket. II they can widen this pocket
by an attack on the west side. all the
allied line east and west Of the Disc
between Scissors and Montdidier will
be in danger OF development and Foch
may have to make long retreat.
Il they can widen it to the eastward
Rheims will go, and with 1t all the
high ground north Of the Marne and
west Of Chalons. This would mean
dislocation Of the allied front SO
ana threaten tho line north Of Tout.
But tho Germans must widen their
gap, They have reached and possibly
passed the point of safety. 50 far as
direct advance 10 concerned. II the
French and British maintain their
present positions. then. although the
German thrust may reach the Marine
and temporarily cut the Paris-Cha-
Ions Nancy railroad. 1t will have the
character of a raid and will be fol-
lowed by q rapid retreat in a brief
time. s
Toch Follows Precsdsnt.
As. to the allied course, st 10 clear
that 20 far Foch has been compelled
to follow the precedent Of the Amiens
anu S0uAA8S du AtIhCk ne
could not immediately stop by frontal
In the case Of Amiens the
German tide was slowly, CONSTRUCTED
between the Ancre and Ayre rivers
until the apex Of the wedge became
20 narrow It was unsafe to advance
farther.
AT that time the world looked for a
French counter Offensive ON the flank
pf the German advance between
Noyon and Montdidier. Now exactly
The same invitation 10 held out by the
side Of the new German salient be-
tween Chateau ,Thierry and soissons.
K Foch can spare the reserves this Is
the answer to be expected, and II such
/ counter offensive were successful
HE German thrust might collapse in .
real disaster. .1s
! But, on the other hand, II is well to
remember that the Germans have the
reserve necessary for q second thrust
exactly like that made two months
ako In Flanders 2fter the Picardy
offensive had been checked, and any
of. the, allied lines west st
the Disc Tor counter offeustye on
the east would inevitably bS follow
I'd by IN attack ON this wsst which
I0ttht have4very SGrAvas coasoqueneee.i
ThAPAf0YA. 1T In mara tlna !. f1leS1x, that