The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-05-28
ARMIES BEING MASSED
FOR THE FINAL PUNCH
ALLIES READY TO MEET DES-
PERATE THRUST OF KAISER'S
PATCHED-UP DIVISIONS.
FOCH IS EXPECTED TO MAKE
A TERRIFIC COUNTER BLOW

Come at Amy Hour. Millions of
Men Will Engage in the Mighty
Conflict Now About to Break.
Indications in France point to a
speedy resumption of the German
drive. Allied air scouts report that
the regrouping of the German divis-
ions behind their lines is complete,
and that almost 100000 men are
ready to be moved, by forced march
es, to whatever point the German
high command selects for its new
thrust. Whenever and wherever the
Huns strike they will find the allies
ready for them.
1t is still thought the main attack
will be made between La Bassee and
the Amiens region. Another punch
may come between Amiens and Noy-
ons. Again the Germans, regarding
Vimy Ridge as the key to the allied
lines between Aniens and the sea,
may try to regain the positions wrest-
ed from them by the British several
months ago 1t would prove a costly
experiment, but successes there
would offer great possibilities. Haze
brOuck, southwest of Ypres and the
railroad center of that area, might
be another objective if the Germans
still want to try at the channel ports.
The long quiet spell which has fol-
lowed the first German drive has
helped both sides, probably being bet
ter for the allies than the Germans,
for it has enabled General Foch to
place his troops SO as to meet Ger
man strength with allied strength,
German artillery with allied artillery
and strengthen the trench defense
system all along the line. 1t was a
gigantic task for the allies to be do
ing this while the drive was going on,
so that the German defeat at KEN
mel came as a welcome relief to the
allies.
Undamnted by Huge Losses.
The kaiser's commanders are I'M
daunted by their huge losses in the
first drive The cost is not taken into
account in their mad effort to force
decision, and that soon. Captured
documents reveal that Germany has
had 206 divisions on the western
front, of which LOG were actually in
the fighting and suffered such casual
ties that they had to be withdrawn
for reconstruction Of the 140 divis-
ions 100000 men) now massed
for the second drive many of the
troops have been drawn from Ger
many and include the 1920 class, in
dicating that the Hun reserves in the
first drive were SO hard hit they were
unable to replace all the front line
losses.
The ground over which the Ger
mans must advance if they are to
keep up the attack, once it is launch
ed, is one vast area of sheu-torn land.
Its roads have disappeared, its rail-
roads are wrecked and all these must
be rebuilt as the troops move for
ward.
The allies expect the Germans to
gain some ground. Any position can
be taken if the attackers are willing
to pay the cost and the Germans have
not shown a disposition to take cost
into consideration. This will be Ger
many's supreme effort, and if she
could succeed would be worth the
price she is willing to pay. But
she can't win.
FOch Ready to Counter Attack.
The allies may not have as many
men to throw into the fray, but they
have far greater number of re-
serves, and on the defensive it does
not take many men to hold posi-
ton against far greater numbers.
With these reserves the allies can
throw monkey wrench into the Ger
man machinery any time Foch desires
by thrusting out the reserves in a
counter attack at the German weak
spot Foch's plans are we'll known to
the allied commanders and they ap-
prove, but the public, of course, must
merely guess, feeling safe in the
knowledge that the plan of battle is
all worked out and that a counter
has been prepared for any move the
Germans may make.
Both sides are poised for the blow.
1t may fall any day, any hour. But,
II it fails Germany has shot her last
bolt; she has gambled with her last
stake and she can only fall into her
trenches, fortify them and try to
Stave off defeat as long as she can.