Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-07
HUN WILL STRIKE NEXT
ON FLANDERS FRONT
Will Abandon Reaching Paris and
Try For Calais if He Strikes
at All, Says Expert.

| Washington, ID. c., Aug THE war
situation summarized by n prominent
| military writer is thus set down:
| "Hrief reference was made several nys
ago to the German Withdrawals In several
different fields other than that which Is
marked by active military operations. One
| of these Was the retirement across the
Avre In this sector the Germans held
! two small but dangerous salients. The
first was between Hangard and Moriscl,
the apex of this salient being at Coasei
| The second was exactly similar, the apex
being near Mesnil-St. George, while the
| limit of the flanks was at Cantigny on the
north and Assainvillers on the south.
TWO DANGEROUS sALlENrs.
| "These salients were especially danger
Gus by virtue or the fact that between
| them the German line ran on the west
bank of the Avre river. For example, if
| the French began oiIensivos from both
| Hangard and Assainvillcrs ut the same
moment, and they were even moderately
successful, the Germans would never be
able to get across the Avre in safety. Even
should their men make good the retreat
all of the equipment on the west bank
was certain to go. The retirement of the
German lines to the eastern bank of the
Avre throughout was then but n measure
of prccautlon to prevent subsequent
trouble.
another retirement noted was across
the Ancre from Albert north. There was
no such situation as there was in the
couth along the ,Avrc The reason for this
retirement therefore must have been en-
tirely different from that stated. At the
same time, as the two movements were
simultaneous, and as the nature of them
both was exactly the same, masmuch as
they were both made TO place the Ger
mans behind a defensive barrier, 1t IS fair
to presume that they were both made for
the same purpose, provided we can cstab-
lish a common reason This reason cannot
be other than that the Germans were try
ing to better their defensive positions for
some special purpose. This purpose may
have been one of several.
roCH HAS STRONG ARMY.
LET us suppose that Germany contem-
plated another offensive at some part of
the line in the near future Her first con
sideration is that she cannot longer depend
upon the Allies remaining quiet SO that she
NAV carry things through as she pleases,
subject only to their defense Eoch really
has strong army of manpuvres, which
he has shown he is not afraid 10 use, and,
moreover, he knows how and when TO
use It.
This being the case, Germany must
arrange matters as far as possible so that
she will be immune from attack In other
quarters while she Is pressing her move
ment home. This would apply both 10 the
retirement along the Avre and that along
the Ancre 1t would, however, negative
the idea that there was in the German
mind, any possibility OF ever striking along
the valleys OF these two streams In other
words Amiens Is immune from future
attack since to launch such an attack
Germany would have to recross IN the
face of the Allied defence the very streams
which she Is now giving up. This seems
ridiculous.
LINE IMMUNE FROM Hun ATTACK
THE chances are then that we may con- |
slider that the battle line from north OF |
Albert to Montdidier is free from future |
attacks by Germany and that as far as
she Is concerned Is absolutely stable.
This means that there Is no section !
of the front from north Of Albert TO Yer |
dun that Is apt TO be attacked. Between |
Montdidier and scissors the Germans |
tried to break through and suffered /
heavy defeat Between scissors and |
DAYS a still more decided defeat. Not only |
did the offensive break down, but the I
counter offensive Of the Allies forced the |
great retreat from the Marne 70 the Nesle, |
and probably to the Aisne before complete I
sta billzation takes place.
Between Rheims and the Argonne /
Forest one Of the most dangerous sectors /
of the entire allied line, the Germans suf-
fered equally as heavy check. This
section OF the fighting area Is, therefore, /
apt to be let alone.
HUNS MAY sTRikB FOR CALAIS.
This leaves only the area in Flanders,
between La Bassee and the sea. This
sector is the most tempting bait. Ii has
been one of the German dreams since the
beginning Of tho war to reach Calais. She
mas been beaten back now three times and
ls but little nearer than she was at the
high-water mark Of 1915. There has been,
il is true, q small retirement here also, just
to the north Of the canal, but it has been
80 small as 10 be without any Significance.
"If Germany strikes at all then, during
what is left of this fighting year, Il is
highly probable that the blow will fall on
he Flanders sector. Success here would
lot accomplish anything vital. but 1t
you'd give Germany something more
han a defeat on which TO hang peace
offensive.