The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-18
BRITISH PASSED
A GREAT CRISIS
SAYS MAURICE
Position Similar to that of
Wellington at Waterloo,
Says Chief.
(Ry Associated Pressl


LONDON, April 18.-Maj Gen. F.
w. Maurice. chief of military opera
tons at the war office. today dis
cussed the battle in France with the
correspondents of the Associated
Press.
Il returned last night from France
he said. THE situation yesterday
was very anxious The Germans had
taken Bailleul. Meteren, and Wyt-
schaete and had brought four fresh
divisions into action against us.
IF the enemy could have main
tanned that pressure there looked to
be vital danger to the ridge of heights
which includes Mount KENNEL aad
which Is the backbone of our defense
on the northern portion Of the battle
front.
News Today is Better.
The news last night and today is
better. We had a withdrawal to a
new line in the Ypres salient. The
withdrawal was decided upon on Sun
day. II was carried out partly on
Sunday night and completed on Mon
day. 1t is a regrettable military ne
cessity which forces us to give up
ground which We won at such heavy
still Smelling trenches which we had
left the day before
Gen Maurice then referred to the
successful British counter attack in
the neighborhood of Wytschaete, and
continued
Preparations for shortening our
line in the Ypres salient were made
some time ago and the decision to
mt hot ko
fall OF Bailleul, owing to the danger
offered to our position in the salient
from flanking movement. The with
drawal was not dictated or governed
by the adverse course of events
around Bailleul, but by more general
considerations.
"Whole Situation Good"
What oil the whole battle situa-
ton? Our army has been going
through a severe strain and that
strain has been reflected at home The
situation has had it's critical moments
and still is decidedly anxious. But
remember we have accepted the prin-
ciple OF united front and must ac-
cept the consequence of that princi-
pie. We must lok at the whole bat
tie, not from our army's sacrifices
point Of the whole entente.
The British army is playing the
role which 1t often has played be-
fore. 1t is fighting a Waterloo while
Bleucher is marching to the battle
field.
Stand a Great Pounding
The British army is under a ter
rible hammering, but providing Bleu-
n hnr DC sob fv,r II
there Is no reason for disbursement.
THE enormous task which the Brit
ish army has performed and still is
performing may be shown by few fig
ures. In this battle of Armentieres the
Germans thus far have engaged twen-
ty-eight divisions, and since March p
they have engaged 126 divisions.
"Of these the British army alone
has engaged seventy-nine. the French
alone have engaged twenty-four, and
the remaining twenty-three have been
engaged by the British and French to-
gether.
OF the German divisions which the
British engaged twenty-eight have
been fought twice, and one thrice Of
the German divisions which the French
engaged four have fought twice. Of
the German divisions which the French
and British fought together, fifteen
have been fought twice and one thrice
1T is unpleasant business standing
the hammering. but so long as we can
stand 1t, the only question to be asked
is: What is happening to Bluecher;
what has become of the reserves?
Although the French army is larger
than ours, we have taken the strain
of these battles off them. There is no
reason to be in state of despair if
the situation is regarded from a broad
point of view, and If we regard our
great sacrifices rightly as a necessary
part of the great drama"