Evening star., 1918-04-07

hardly will be as sustained as during
the first few fateful days, when the
Teutons were straining every effort to
smash through at any cost.
The Germans have endeavored to
drive wedges into the allied armies
- defending Arras and
Allied Lines Still Amiens with the
idea OF breaking up
1e Ansace' the allied system
Of communication along the north and
south railways. These lines are intact,
the French and British holding firmly
everywhere, though being forced slowly
backward. The most noticeable Ger
manic gain has been to the southwest
In the general direction Of Paris in
the Montdidier region.
The Germans have forced a pocket
into the allied line and this Is extreme
ly dangerous to the Germans them
selves, for should they fail to break
through, the allies will be in position
to seriously menace the hanks Of the
salient and in case of a successful
allied counter offensive, possibly cut
OF the German forces more distantly
removed from the main German supply
..
be scored unless the Germans make
further advance toward the west. 1t
would be the part OF good tactics Tor
the allies to slowly fall back to draw
the Montdidier pocket" before they
usher in their own offensive
Under ordinary circumstances 1t
would have been advisable for the
allies to strike back during the course
tios been auspicious, the idea being
to direly punish the enemy before he
had time to readjust himself and re-
store order out of the disorganization
which seemed to prevail Immediately
after the German offensive began to
wane in the region to the south OF the
Somme.
Owing to their present position to the
south Of the Somme 1t may be expected
that the Germans will attack further.
The German high command cannot now
cease its offensive efforts in the face
Of dreadful losses and admit to the
German people SO early IN the season
that the allied lines cannot PEA oe Pr9hen }heir
present positions in the face OF the
allied offensive which is certain to
come. The Germans will keep hammer
ing the allied positions for some time,
with the constant hope that the next
blow will bring about the desired re,
suits, IN these blows the Germans Will
continue to play into the hands OF the
allies for during the lull of the past
several days the French and British
have not only remarshaled their battle
forces. readjusted their positions,
brought up all necessary heavy ord
nance, but in numerous other ways
have prepared for any further Ger
manic aggression in the region below
the Somme. as well as in those re-
gions about Arras where there are IN
creasing signs that the Germans in
tend to renew the struggle. The chle1
German effort. however. reasonably
south of the Somme. There their CHIEF
infantry forces are engaged and Teu-
tonis lines of communication are
choked with reinforcements all going
in this direction.
Further Germanic aggression means
further Germanic slaughter. This ag-
gression undoubtedly will be accom-
tirements. for as long as the casualties
inflicted upon the Teutonic hosts are
great enough the allies may still claim
victory all the while they are falling
back, for the country which the Ger
mans may gain. absolutely desolated as
1t is, cannot repay them for the losses
they have suffered.
In some quarters fears have been ex-
pressed that this rearward movement
OF the allies is
Allies Safety DANGEROUS. Under
Lies in Reserves. stances the peril
would increase with Teutonic gains. In
the present case. however. one fact al
ways must be borne in mind-the allied
A a