The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-06-01
Special Gable Despdtch 10 TINS SrS
Copyright. 1915: oil rights reserred.

LONDON. May 3l.-Two of the clear
est thinking writer's on military strategy.
one an Englishman and the other a
German. In reviewing the present often.
sve on the A!sne agree that the sue
cesses Of the Germans have been due
simply to the superior efficiency OF the
German military machine
Gen. II. Sidebotham. who writes in
the Manchester Guardian under the
name "A Student of the War;" and Prof.
Hans De.bruck. editor of the PreusSischc
Jdhrbucher. are the two men referred to.
Gen. Side botham's article appeared this
morning. Delbrucks was written be-
tween the first and second stages OF the
great battle now going on.
OF the two Delbruck's article is the
more enlightening as an analysis not
only of the foundations Of the German
successes bat also Of the causes which.
in the writer's mind. are responsible for
the inferiority OF the Allies armies.
DOCTRINE of Won Moltke.
Debruck begins py pointing out that
| ever since 1870 the unparalleled devel-
opment of armaments has been to the
advantage OF the defence, but after the
time Of Won Moltke the doctrine was
developed that the offensive can gain the
greater advantage from this same
strength OF means OF defence for the
reason that the strength Of the offen-
slve lies in its power OF fanking opera
tions. No matter how thin the line be-
comes from such extension, It has such
defensive strength from modern arms
| that 1t can hold out for a very long
time. and in the meantime the envelop-
ing process goes on. the attack being
! launched from two different directions
against two different fronts.
In present day warfare, however. the
fronts have become 70 extended that
for geographical reasons there Is no
longer any possibility Of hanking move
ments Nothing was left but trench
warfare and tactical Instruments were
| sought to overcome the strength OF this
| tactical defensive. heavier artillery
tanks, gas. airplanes. But the defence
! was arranged to suit these tactics BY
means OF thinly held front lines and
| counter attacks while the attacker was
! consolidating his hrst gains. As re-
suit of this elasticity Of defence trench
warfare became something in the ma.
; ture OF open battle.
Strategy of Exhaustion.
Delbruck shows how Field Marsha
Won Hindenburg. after three years OF
this defensive warfare. determined &c
take the offensive. after being reinforced
by troops from Russia. He continues:
Does this attack mean a transition
from the strategy Of exhaustion to the
strategy Of an annihilating blow? MOI
yet for In the strategy Of exhaustion
also we have most tremendous battles
In the strategy OF annihilation battle II
a matter Of course, but In the strategy
of exhaustion II requires a special cause
| Frederick the Great In his general prin
cipies Of war gives a list Of such reasons
one Of which Is to break the stubborn
| ness Of the enemy II he will not make
peace"
Specializing as to why tho Germani
have been successful 80 far in their pres
ent offensive. he Gays:
'sThe two sides are about equal. TIL,
ALLIES anticipated Germany with hel
tanks, they have . superiority In the air
their trenches are as good. certainl,
their bravery Is equal to ours. How
then. has Germany been 50 successfuly ?
He answers this question himself will
the single word strategy" He point.
out that during the winter Gen. Luden
dorff gave all the troops detailed train
ing In every method of modern warfar,
and adds:
| IAN reports agree that the Englisl
leaders are not At for their tasks. tina
units became confused during the fight
Ing and therefore lost contact with tn