The sun., 1918-04-27
LAST RESERVES
WILL WIN, SAYS
GEN. RADCLIFFE
British Tactician Predicts
Big New Offensive. With
All Summer Battling.
GREAT ENDURANCE TEST
Kennels Loss Serious, Not
Decisive-Recent Net Re-
suits Satisfactory.
GREAT ENDURANCE TEST

LONDON. April 20. - The Importance
OF every allied country engaged in the
war to get every possible man into
position to support the battle front was
emphasized by Gen. Delma Radcliffe,
Chief Director o< Military Operations,
at the War Office. to-day. in his first
interview with newspapermen since he
took over the position formerly held
by Major-Gen. Maurice.
The Germans are going on with
this hammering process" he said. "and
we have got to make up our minds
that II Is not this week. or next week.
or next month that this fight Is coming
TO a decision. We are going to fight
the whole summer. and in the end 1t Is
question cf who holds the last re-
serves
Reserves on the west front are now.
l am happy to say. In the hands OF one
command. namely. In the hands Of
the Chic, Of the Allied
Armies in France. Gen. Foch. in whom
everybody In both armies has complete
confidence. He has so far employed only
small proportion OF his reserves, and
that il good augury for the future
Il want to emphasize the fact that
this Is long drawn out test OF endur-
ance--endurance OF nations That Is
why It 10 30 imperative for this country
and all countries which are engaged TO
to support the battle front. What Is
going to tell in the end is men''
Lys Results Satisfactory.
In summing up the battle situation
Gen. Radcliffe said
"As regards few days preceding
April 2S. the German activities were
devoted chiefly to the Lys sector be-
tween Giverchy and Mervii!e. All the
details have been published and the
net result was highly satisfactory for
us. The Germans put in a lot OF troops
suffered heavy losses and gained abso
lutely nothing.
Around Givenchy particularly the
result was very satisfactory. Some i'm
portant positions changed hands and
were finally left in our possession. Fur
ther north. east OF RobecQ, We gained
quite a little ground and took a consid-
cradle number OF prisoners. Al. Of II
was good The balances Of losses and
wear and tear were decidedly against
the Germans and that is what we want
''On the morning OF April "a the enemy
| began more serious effor: opposite
Amisns and yesterday he started heavy
attack on the KENNEL front. The enemy
| has made considerable progress. The
latest infornat ton Is still incomplete, but
there Is no doubt that the Germans sue
ceeded in occupying KENNEL Hill. sec
| tor involving both French and British
| troops.
The net result in the KENNEL sectol
SO far is that the Germans have gainet
about 1000 yards on a front OF abou
! 1900 yards Tho gain Is not large. bu
! involves very important ground. ant
there is no question but that It is very
serious loss
KENNEL Hin Not Decisive.
There is nothing decisive about th'
loss Of KENNEL Hill. but it is a mos
! important tactical feature. 1t IL al
observation point for all ground to thu
north. but II remains to be seen whethe
| II will remain in the enemys hands. Ou
line to the north is all right Kemme
Hin is an isolated height covered will
woods which stands rather out in iron
and apart from that range OF hills whic'
Gen. Maurice has referred to as tn
backbone OF the position.
THE situation around KENNEL Hill
not vet cleared up, and we shall hav
ION the south the situation at Nillcrs
Bretonneux IL very satisfactory. w
have taken back all We lost. and wit
the village we nave taken many prison
ers and inflicted heavy Losses. Nilers
BretonneouX Is "A most important tao
tical point. atop a plateau from whic
one may look doNn the western slope
toward Amiens
| Looking at these two attacks W
see one thing. In each case the cnem
has struck at the Junction OF tn
French and British armies. As 20
know. that must always he wea
spot With the best possible arrange
ments and with the best understand
ings 1t must always he difficult I
arrange for immediate support. bot
by artillery and reserves, when Nv
d fferent commands are involved.
Seek Joint In Allies Harness.
These difficulties, naturally. are il
creased when you have two national!tie
and although we and the French hav
been fighting alongside each other fo
three and half years and have absolut
confidence in each other yet we mus
always expect the Germans to try
find n joint in the harness.
"There In no reason to doubt that
big offensive on far greater scale ina
ever Ia still to be expected betwee
Arras and Amiens, with the object {
driving in and separating the Britis
and French. So far the whole Germa
success IN merely tactical lie has wo
ground and taken positions and gur
and is hammering the British arm
wherever possible,
This objcc, has been countercd by Z.
action Of the allied Commander In Chit
In sending French troops to the mort
front making 1t more difficult TOR Il
Germans to continue the game of ngh