South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-14

ing the fact that the second battle Of the Somme
is rapidly taking the and character Of another
gigantic Verdun with all that VerJun means
20 the German and allied publics.
recall more the exact circumstances
under which the present German campaign under
taken The did attack in Picardy in 1913
French did in CT lmpagne in 1915 to relieve
ally and with only subordinate hope OF breaking
through. They did attack did the British AMI
the French at the sonme. imperied sector
of front Verdun had saved in July.
1915. They had FAR more ambitious objective than
mad the il-starred Nvele year ago the Aisne.
His maximum purpose was 70 turn the German out OF
France and Haigs hope in the Ypres campaign of
summer and fall did not beyond the freeing of the
Belgian coast
Now the Germans in their venture have returned
their own precedents of the Marine and verdun cam
paisns. Their offensive deliberate attempt to
the by gigantic thrust and it advertis
By the press which such instances always
speaks by the book and the dicaton of the German
army. The German to impose a German peace
the world by one more victorious campaign. He
struck the British in 1918 he struck the French in
1916 Before verdun he advertised his offensive de-
break the heart France" Before his last
attack he promised to break the spirit and will Of
There permanent profit the German a
this time in the in a gain of territory without
rupture allied o a there
profit in the reconquest Of that desert he had created
between SscheIdt. Somme Scarpe
Disc his great retreat of the previous year SINH
Tar advance anywhere else on front
intellectually disastrous TO his foes, because it
would have devastated a region of France and
thus added more to the burdens the has brought
upon the French nation.
He struck where he did because it the place
n where ne could hope. given
pete success at the outset produce situation cut
o. which he might win a supreme triumph and end
the war dwell upon this detail if it be a detail, be-
cause essential nov. and the few weeks
keep in mind the German purpose 1t is essential
because otherwise ther may be unnecessary pes
simism which will have A bad effect The German is
bound to make new gairs he is almost certain ad-
his line points just he did at Verdun, but
as at verdun the main consideration gain.
but which ne realizes his main purpose.
Verdun a failure the German after he
checked the Douaumont plateau February 20.
1916. had aimed, that campaign, take Verdun
with his thrust interpose between the French
armies OF central of the groups
ate them AID compel a general retirement with
the abandonment thousand square miles of
French territory and eventual resumption of the
march Paris BY March l. there not the small
chance OF separation of French armies Verdun
became merely local issue, French strategy became
purely problem holding until the British should
be ready for their Somme attack
French strategy realized its larger purpose and By
the smallest o. margins the
British attacked at the Somms July l. Verdun
in extreme danger would almost certainly
fallen in the next few months there no
sion OF German reserves and artillery to
lttleground But the taking of Verdun i'll the
summer of 1916 would not have been a commensurate
return for German casualties amounting between
500 600 100000. Even had Verdun fallen, French
strategy TO hold the mass of the German armies
NAV until Britain cOuld he fully ready
Now. bearing in mind the verdun parallel
see the German offensive in its light the present
instance. The had certain political
ditions at home and abroad His people ter
rtbly tired suffering greatly from hard
ships incident They wanted peace but the vic
tories in the east the collapse Russia
porar!y raised their spirits and they willing to
believe their military leaders who told them that
more great EFFORT in the would bring
peace and what was important. would
able Germany make her enemies pay the costs OF
the war for every German ordinary inteugence re-
alzes that Germany ruined if she obtain in
IDENTITIES and break Gown hostility
present foes which will cripple her economic future.
Finally the German realized that the United states
was beginning 70 be military factor. The OF
American troops TO the continent which several
months ago had amounted the statement of the
french high commissioner. TO nearly a quarter OF
million was continuing and increasins. Granted that
GERMANY might a slight preponderance of num-
bers available for the offensive in March and in April
the margin s. small that 10 postpone action for
two or three months would wipe it result OF
the increase OF American troops France. Time
against the German did at the time Of Vetdun.
when he sought a decision before the British could
ready
Now auied strategy certain equally plain facts