The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-26
DECISIVE BATTLE ON. ,
SAYS GERMAN CRITIC
CoUers Teuton Retreat With
Old Cry of Strategy.
Special Gable Despatch 70 The Sen from fae
London Times Service.

Special Gable Despatch 70 THE Ser from fhe
London Times Service.
CspSvsshf. lsis; all riohts reserved.
TnE HAGUE. Sept. 25.-Lieut. Gen. Won
Ardenne. writing In the Berlin Tage-
brdff. says It was animated in Entente
military quarters a week ago that Gen.
Foch was planning a decisive battle. the
sxtent OF which would far cxceed all
hitherto recorded, and that the gigantic
contest would be carried through regard
less OF losses in men and materials.
These inttmations were correct" he
writes. ION September IS Gen. Foch
began a great battle on all European
battle fronts and one that must bring a
decision for one Of the contending groups
OF nations. simultaneously an action
was started in Palestine. the only thing
preventing an operation in Mesopotamia
being the climate, which. owing TO the
tropical heat, makes every operation on
large scale appear to be excluded until
November.
THE main decision. however. lies in
the north of France. Interest therefore
concentrates itself in this gigantic ac-
ton of world historical development.
When the German army communiQue an
nounced on September that the Ger
man armies had marched to their new
lines. by which was meant, roughly
speaking. the Siegfried position, the Ger
man reading world believed the migra-
tory. mobile defensive battle had come to
an end and that the war OF movement
hailed by the enemy with so much salts
faction would thereby pass into the stiff
forms OF position warfa7e' at least tenn
Concerning this. however. the battles
Of the last two weeks taught that in the
wide foreground Of the Siegfried posi-
lions the struggle. still simmering. has
indeed in many places assumed the char
acter of battle. German counter at
lacks have won back sections OF terri
tory which appeared to have been given
up finally.
THE ultimate object of these opera
lions would be incomprehensible were
one not acquainted with the methods OF
the German high command We are at
the present time merely wearing away
the enemys military force. to weaken
and ultimately to rob it OF its thrusting
power. That is why the German rear
guard battles steadily increase in tough
ness and power Of resistance. The for
ward thrust Of the Entente armies from
the User to the Aisne bears a steadily
increasing resemblance to heavy
stream Of cooling lava, which must even
tually solidify"
Those at home in Germany will ask
why our troops, are still fighting in the
foreground OF the Siegfried position, in
stead OF retiring Immediately to the
main battle front. where presumably the
defence would be easier. ..,...-
This question is provoked by a mis-
taken conception Of the manner Of our
present defensive action. The British
call this the Hindenburg line, thereby
displaying their ignorance. 1t Is not a
line. but rather a complicated quadratic
system OF tactical bases and positions.
reinforced after the manner Of fortif-
cations. which proceeds from Cambria
to La Fere, and over a depth of about
forty kilometers. The enemy, therefore
would have to shatter n granite block
2.400 square miles in extent before be-
ing in a position to freely develop his
forces and steer them to higher goals.
alto overcome the Siegfried positions
would only be an introduction to further
developments which would cause the
Entente Powers ultimately TO retire
into a crepuscular remoteness. How
aver, the German army's ally-winter-
is approaching with rapid strides to
hinder Foch and his tropical auxiliary
troops. which in the French shock
atrnies constitute from one to two-thirts
OF the strength.
THE enemy reports veil the diff
hcrlties of this situation by misleading
announcements. The British announce
triumphantly that the Wotan line waf
the last strong defensive position to be
overcome. and as a matter OF fact the
Wotan line was not a. defence position
or a redoubt but merely a northern
extension OF the Segfried position. The
British merely advanced into the fore.
most trenches. and have not pushed for.
ward for the last eight days