New-York tribune., 1918-04-18
New Positions on Shorter
Lines Easier to Defend
and to Supply
Loss of Territory
Counts for Nothing
Germans Becoming Ex-
hausted After Hurting %
Divisions Into Battle
By Arthur S. Draper
Tribune Cable Service1

LONDON, April 1.-THE situation on
the northern battlefront causes exceed
ing anxiety but there is confidence the
future will become increasingly bright.
Looking at the battle from a broad
viewpoint, the British line running
northeast from north of Bailleul to
Ypres is much stronger than it has
been since the armies settled down to
trench warfare over three years ago.
To prevent misunderstanding, must
: add that the Germans still hold the
/! initiative, that they are fighting for a
finish, and that the battle is likely to
continue desperately for some days be-
fore the Allies are out of the woods.
On the other hand, the British have
shown readiness to adjust them
selves to the military exigencies with
out regard to the moral effect.
British Have Shorter Front m
i What has happened on the front sSff
Ypres? -,,sg e
Here the British had salient which
narrowed as the enemy advanced
through Bailleul. With the loss of
Bailleul the difficulty Of supplying the
defenders of this salient greatly in
creased. After holding the Ypres
salient for sentimental reasons since
the spring of 1915 the British attacked
on July 81 last and continued the cam
paign until November. Against tre-
mendous obstacles and at heavy cost
Haig's men obtained fairly strong
hold on Passchendaele Ridge. 1t was
a campaign which many times was on
the eve of a great victory, only to be
baked the next day.
Now the British have fallen back to
a position easier to defend and easier
to supply from the Poperinghe region.
Territory counts not at all now; po-
sitions mean everything. The British
have a shorter front and can now de-
fend the Channel ports with increased
hope of success. Their retirement was
conducted in order, and skilfully, and
the German claims in this region must
be read in the light of the facts stated
above.
Germans Exhausting Themselves
Ludendorff has hurled twenty-eight
divisions against the British since the
opening of the Battle of Armentieres,
and though they we're the pick of his
storm troops nature APPARENTLY has be-
gun to rebel. The tired, battered, strong
hearted British defenders have not sac
rificed themselves in vain, for they
served as a wall against which the
Germans slowly but surely are ex-
hausting themselves.
No army in history has stood the
h tho fich
Several times Haig's line has been per-
ilously thin and twice, or perhaps
thrice, it has been broken, but always
the dam has been repaired and the flood
stayed.
A year ago General Plumer. who is
now holding the enemy along the west
ern slopes of Messines Ridge, was di-
recting the sweep of the same place
which resulted in the capture of $4,000
single offensive undertaken by any
British general.
Three years ago, in the Ypres region
to the north the British, and especially
the Canadians, were making their IA
nous stand, though waves of gas. swept
over them, which saved the Channel
ports.
|, Ludendorff has abandoned the tao
tics Of 1914. which called for a good
and has adopted the plan Of 1915. His
tory is repeating itself, the blood
soaked country of Flanders is being
drenched afresh, and the British, with
the French, are now making a stand
along a line stronger than that which
they held in 1915.
Though the German success prob
ably exceeded the cnemy's expectation.
just as the Amiens campaign proved
a considerable disappointment, neither
hassbrought decisive results and there
is Justification for a feeling Of relief,
though the morrow may contain many
anxious moments.
From Merville southeast to Givenchy,
the strongest position on the British
line, the situation continues satisfac-
tory and q powerful attack is being re-
pulsed.
Bernhardi Slowed Down
The famous General Bernhard.
who pridcs himself on his resourceful-
ness and adaptability to circumstances,
has been slowed down for the last two
days. Fog, mist and rain enshroud the
battlefront and conditions could hardly
be worse, but still the fighting con-
tinues day and night without cessation.
The heartening thought is worth
bearing in mind at all times that the
French army is considerably larger
that it is under Foch's orders, that the |
Somme saved Verdun and that the
French always repay compliment.