Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-05
Flanders and St. Mihiel
Blows Guard Force Pre-
pairing Decisive Victory
COMMUNICATION is CUT
Varied Battles Drawing Heav-
lily on Cermany's Strategic
Reserves
BY WALTER DURANTY
Special Cable TO Euening Public Ledger
A Copnriohi- 70 IL IN Nclr NnrL Ii,ncs %


with the French Armies. oct. 5.
II is now possible to analyze the
strategic conception OF the battle OF
France. which continues with un-
diminished fury. The map shows tha
the whole battle front forms salient
between Neuport and Verdun--a huge
arc of a circle where line drawn
through Courtai, Nalenciennes, Heir
son and Mezieres is the cord.
As might be expected, these four towns
are junction points through which the
principal enemy communications pass.
Foch is reducing the salient in logical
fashion by pressure on the side. which
accounts for the violence of the fighting
between Cambria st. Quentin and the
Champagne and the Mouse
Protects Both FIanks
To assure himself against intcrfer-
ence from the TANKS the Allied leader
first obliterated the pocket of st Mlhiel,
which gave Verdun and the Meuse as
perfect cover for his right. Then he
launched the army of Belgium on the
main British operations The striking
success of this blow, delivered with un-
expected strength in an uneSpected
quarter, opened further possibilities of
enormous Notwithstanding less than
a threat to the enemy communications
from the whole region between the sea
and st. Quentin which, generally speak
ing. are directed toward a triangle
formed by Brussels. Namur and Liege.
fI,, t,rif,. 4iVNIN gNf sFTlf fnkTNr
Foch is exploiting the success to the
utmost. Already part of the communica-
tions between the German positions on
the Belgian coast and the interior have
been interrupted and acceptuation of
the threat to the Bruges-Ghent-B Brussels
iine will force abandonment of the lit
toral.
Bitter Blow to Enemy
Such an event would be one of the
bitterest blows Germany could receive;
first, as greatly diminishing the already
waning submarine campaign ana, Sec
ondly. as wrestling from the invaders a
coveted position on the sho"es OF the
English channel that undoubtedly was
one of their principal obJectives of the
whole war.
In previous dispatches I have empha-
sized the danger of Franco-American
pressure on the right against the COM
munications from the eastern half of the
battle front, which follows three prin-
cipal lines: First. from Laon through
Mezieres to Stenay; second. from north
OF Rheims to Mezieres. and third, through
nRethel and youziers to Mezeres.
The latest. news indicates that. con-
vulsiyely as the Germans are struggling.
the French and Americans are adNanc-
ing irresistibly. Thursday these troops
To. Il tlin
whole mountain position that had dehed
previous attacks.
Here, particularly. are found concrete
ynachine-gun shelters arranged in tiers.
according to the newest method. Be-
fore each individual position of defense.
an absolutely bare space, which the
French call a glacis, has been prepared,
over which assailan:s must pass. Switch
trenches on the fanks and rows of wire
ten, twenty and even thirty yards deep,
bar turning movements and divide the
defense into compartments" each OF
which must be stormcd separately.
Advance Two and One-half Miles
Nevertheless the troops fought their
way forward TO depth OF two and one
half miles. on the tight the operation
continues against a strong crest in the
region of Orfeuil. Liry and Monthois and
further east, the French have passed
Chalierange to a point six miles from
vouziers.
on the whole battlefront, the defense
is gradually being overcome by series
Of thrusts forward whereof each creates
q small salient whereby neighboring
positions can be outfianked and carried
with panic at home disaster abroad.
and exhaustion and Generalization
spreading in the army, Germany IS
forced to make a supreme effort in con-
ditions daily more unfavorable.
Battles on this scale follow the reg
ular. course. The first two days there
Is advance of assailants. followed by
a period which the defenders army OF
reserves can come into action. That
has been the case during the last tive
days--it is from the army from reserves
that incessant and violent counter-at-
tacks have been supplied. But If, as
In the case in the present battle, or
rather, a series of battles-for there
are, at fewest, four distinct co-ordi-
mated major operations and two minor
ones by Mangin and Berthelot-the sup
ply Of reserves has failed to check the
aseaiiant, then appeal must be made 10
strategic reserve for final succor
The next few days viii show what
the diminished strategic reserve of Ger
many can accomplish. In the mean
time, Il is in the hands of the assailant
10 reply with a similar introduction OF
his own strategic reserve in a smashing
blow which may bring a decisive VIC
tory.