Evening journal., 1918-07-24
HOPE IS HIGH AS
FIFTH YEAR DAWHS

+, for the exact dste); that It would
como in the country southwark Of Ar
ras; that the Germans would depend
largely upon gas; that this gas was not
new as the Raw-he, d-snd- bloody
bones scare-mongers and German prop
aandists insisted, but had been used
both at Cambria and in Italy; that a
very short artillery preparation would
be made; something Of the approximate
number Of troops available: that a
big effort would be made first against
the British then against the French in
= drive towards Paris, which city
German military leaders insisted must
be taken: and a lot of other informa-
tion along with this, all of which and
more, Of course, the intelligence seq
ticn Of the British army had found out
the same as ]. This is not swank on
my part. I simply state these facts TO
prove that Sir Douglas Halg knew when,
where and how Hindenburg's offensive
was coming.
Not very long before the offensive
began an unfortunate thing occurred.
The, fortunes Of war necessitated the
taking over OF more line by the British.
Formerly the British line ended near
St. Quentin. Now II was extended as
far as La Fere, and before the troops
got fairly into their new sector, Him
denburg's blow fell
Against the long, thin British line,
, reaching from the River Scarpe to the
Disc, at La Fere, was hurled the might
lest force ever seen in battle. Along
this 50-mile front three army groups
swept forward at dawn, under cover
of the mist. These were the 7th army
OF Otto Won Below, said 10 be the ablest
army commander Hindenburg has; the
Cd army Of Won der Marwitz and the
18th army of Won Hutier, together num-
bering more than so divisions, Of which
Al divisions were used in the first days
attack Opposing the enemy were the
small 3D. British army under Sir Julian
Byng Of Cambria fame, and the smaller
9TH army under General Cough, worn
down In the campaigns mentioned and
very thinly spread out
No soldiers on earth went through
such an ordeal as did tho British dur
ing the seven days following the start
Of that offensive. On March % the
enemy crossed the Tortille and for a
moment IL seemed that they might sue
ceed in separating French and British
armies, which Joined up just south Of
this point. but the gaps were closed |
and the 5th army went on retiring with |
the Sd army falling back in order TO |
keep in touch. To the south the f. ench |
General Fayolle. with superb skill kept |
the gaps closed around Ham, Nesle, |
Chauny, Roye and Noyons.
On the Somme came another critical |
moment Here again, had the Germans |
been so clever as they like 10 believe |
themselves, they might have broken |
through; but again the gap was closed |
On the 25ih the enemy took Mantin-
puich and Courcelette, and Albert was
entered on the following day, but by |
this time General FOUh had been made |
generalissimO in charge OF all opera |
tlons on the western front, the French |
had moved nortnwestw8rd as far as
Moruii on the Avre permitting Haig TO |
thicken his line, and the offensive was
brought 10 a standstill. In all, ga
divisions had been used by the Ger
mans, out OF total OF some 200 ivl- |
sions then identified In the west
The drive In Flanders came few
days later on April g. It started IN a /
small way, against the Portuguese Just
south Of Armentieres snd two British
divisions on their flanks. BY their un-
rapid advance IN the CENTER
,rossing tie River bys at Bac-St. .Maur
nd pushing on towards Ballluel, dan
-erous situation was created for the
'rltish, and the Germans knew t. So
hey quickly flung more troops to en-
lrge the breach and, the following day
truck at Messines, north Of Armen-