The Washington herald., 1918-07-27
The Trap Inspiring, But Gathering Force.

The encirclement OF the crown princes armies
proceeds with unbroken rhythm. 1t is naturally
slow and difficult But the difficulties in the path
OF the battered German divisions are vastly greater
Despite conservative opinion to the contrary, the
chance Of stupendous allied victory, involving
the virtual annihlation of the Teutonic forces
caught in the wedge, has not lessened because
some sensational piercing of the enemy's lines has
failed to eyentuate. 1t is greater today than
it was yesterday.
THE public must not be misled by the slowness
OF the German retirement in the salient below
Fere-en-Tardenois" says Hilaire BeIloc. "The real
problem is one of supply and not of ground. The
enemy has something like half million men and
vast quantity of materials and vehicles cramped
up in a space of thirty-hve miles, and is faced on
the west south and east by complete half-circle
of attacking foes
Nearly the whole of this area is under FIRE and
the points through which his whole supply must
pass, Fere-en-Tardenois and Ville-en-T Tardenois
are in comparatively close range. This means that
the thirty-hve divisions which the Germans have
in the pocket being subjected to strain of the
most severe kind and it is upon the continuation
of that strain and is effects that the result of the
battle will depend"
There is question that the strain" placed
upon the enemy forces is steadily growing heavier.
The Franco-Amercan forces are now far past
Oulchy-le-Chateau and within three miles of Fere-
en-Tardenois, which is junction point of the
main supply roads. The rear of the retreating
Teutons is also being harried effectively despite
the fact that the fighting is now in thick woods,
making rapid progress difficult in the face of ma
chine gun nests left behind. On the east of the
salient the British and Italians have sustained
counter attacks in good shape, and have advanced
slight distance further in the direction of Fismes.
The situation of the German armies is succinctly
characterized by correspondent in this way:
Every line of communication within the Ger
man salient is under bombardment night and day,
either from the allied artillery the airplanes. 1t
is only with the greatest difficulty and with heavy
sacrifices that the enemy is able to hold within
this area All this while his men are suffering
terrible privaons, owing to the uncertainty of OBJ
tanning supplies. In consequence of the allies
commanding virtually every road and every path
the fatigued Germans cannot be relieved even when
they sorely tried"
1t took Ludendorf more than six weeks to as
semblc the guns, ammunition and supplies for his
second drive in this salient two weeks ago. As
the result of the turn the battle has taken, his
armies attempting retreat as far north as the
junction of the Aisne and vesle at Conde-and are
naturally trying take all this huge mass of war
material with them. In the meantime food stocks
are running low, and additional food supplies must
come from the north, and through one single chan
mel (the road via Fismes) whereas a week ago
there were three roads through which support
flowed. And it must be remembered that while
this single channel is chicken with guns and sup
plies rushed northward desperately and frantically.
foodstocks must also be routed the same road
southward-uness a considerable part of the
crown princes army is to fall from hunger before
il is extrieated from the trap
At the present time there is a good prospect