The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-04-15
FDCH'S STRATEGY On WESTERN
FRONT PUZZLES THE GERMANS

PARIS. Franc. Arrt' = rh"lay"d1.-
Emirr"- William has again visited tn"
G"rn,an general headquarters an III"
western from. and VIII, Hind"rhure AMI
I.ui"nd",l has studied Il now plan #
ca:nf,Hi.;u lar Tho fresh German driv"
wlr.i everything indicates IS imminent.
though ike day have passed without
rcall.- important attacks. On the Lens
La Eass.c front n" "I"!ry has begun
heavy bpmhardmc;t with ras shells.
TIL" British having learned III" lesson
"E March -. ar" replying vigorously in
kind.
North Of N" Smminr rh' ';rr1rnn$ A."
said 10 have some ninety divisions
against In" british. with som" twrnt%
III ;rnm-,lia;'. reserve. The number
~e.,n$ To br too enormous H. hr piars-
;hl,: nevertheless. II ~ certain maj
large bodies 81 .rr"ps arr "1mr' ntrni"d
north Of thu Sommc. South If III" som
me- General Marwi;z. commanding III"
second German army. is hu~ly r""rcan-
ling his units. evidently preparatory 10
fresh action Along tho line If Mont
drdirr. Nnyon and the Disc all is rrlh-
lively quiet. save on he extreme rLh'.
; in rh. lower t'otlcy forest. where tn"
French retired som" time ar" from an
uutrnah;" salient. and n" Germans.
having discovered the fact. are viE"r-
ouSIv pushing the outrnSts that tho
French ie:i behind.
Seek to Learn French Positions.
Some OF the German prisoners say
that 'hiS activity Is a prelude Ia II drive
on scissors but personally believe
,ha, the Germans arc merely ANXIOUS Ia
discover whrrc the new French posi-
iionS in the region really are. In short.
Will. SOM observers seem TO expect "a
new ntirnSiv" near L"nZ. ana another
extension Of tie offensive on scissors.
I am convinced that tho Germans mean
rather tn drive straight ahead on
\;uicns. from which they arc now MS
90. u:,Iy min" miles At the nearest
point
I. j. a curious fac mat. whereas l.
!. customary TO bomhard all important
.aads back of III" adversary. III" Ter
nliLnS seem purpoScly 10 havr spared me
great. straight. broad .Alhcr,-AnirnS
highway as if they intended :" use II
themselves The demonstration on IN"
Lens front and tho front north o. SuiS-
sons are probably meant merely i"dra%
tho allies reserves.
The problem which now seems I" o"
chiefly puzziinc HIndcuhucg IL what mas
become OF General Foch'S famous army
NJ n,nucuyrr II" we'll knows low few
! French divisions were really used IN re-
noviug III" ErrtiSh ffth ARM anu STOP
! ping the German advance. Tho military
critic Of the NusSiSchc-HritunG "Xnr"SS"S
the general German anxiety when h'
writes:
.I,t r q -
should hr our real aim IN this battle.
Hindenburg's Possible Plan.
Another German critic points out ma
This mysterious army probably IS not AT
4~%.iuhl-l in the same region. hut Is
disposed in powerful groups 1T strategic
unintS In short. The "n"mE rra'iZcN
that tn, allies Sill retain liberty al a.
,inr and he therefor" shows nervous
ness. lIind"nburG's main ,l"a at pres
en-, il probably something like this:
First. To try 10 exhaust General F"ch'S
reserves 10y another general drive ~ IN"
direction uf Amicn$: SECOND, IN turn MS
main strength agtinSl IN" frltlSh an"
force them back N the dirrciio OF Ah-
im.,.i.i". third. 1" urn against me fFr"r"
in III" direction OF Paris.
General F'nch'S strategy S""mS cQaulIF
clear. FIRST to hold INC enemy by
kncrinC strictly IN ihr dctcnSiE" win
,njcrio-' numbers and "c"nonlIZnG 80
serves: second when thu enemy seems
"a br sufficiently weakened ny MS rHih
efforts and terrible losses. 10 Strike AZ u
weak point with a fresh army and Try
10 ,nrvrr: the "n"my'S partial success
into a genuine defeat.
Ono other thing besides tho where
.,hou,s oc General Fnchs reserves seems
10 be annoying TN" G"rrnanS--Am"r'ca'
Stopping the shock Of III" offensive,
they fear. may. after all. give America
Inn To intervene decisirclr. President
Wilson'S Baltimore speech has struck
home.
This speech" says one Stuttgart
ncwsparer. is equivalent I" second
dccIara,:"u OF war.
For once the Germans ar" rlGh'.