New-York tribune., 1918-06-21
Three Months of Ludendorff;s
Offensiue
By Frank Fl. Simonds

months, when he had the advantage of
surprise, the German totally failed to
produce decision. He did not get to
Paris or to the Channel. He did not
divide the British and the French. He
did not destroy the British or the French
armies. And he emphatically did not
break the morale of the French or the
British soldiers or civilians. Like the
victories of Napoleon at the opening Of
the campaign in 1913 in Eastern Ger
many, Ludendorff's victories have been
barren Of decisive result when decision
was all essential.
Already we may perceive that the
balance is being restored between the
German and our allies on the West
front. We Americans alone have; since
March 81, sent to France sufficient troops
to replace the losses of our allies in the
first three months of fighting. Mistakes
made by the British in the matter Of
training and calling up troops for SER
vice in France have been repaired. The
advantage of numbers, if it still remains
with the German, is slight and destined
to disappear at no distant date in conse-
quence of the rapid arrival Of Americans.
Unity of command has abolished a
fundamental weakness in Allied ranks.
The German has spent more than half
million men in winning brilliant, but
indecisive, triumphs, the very magni-
tude Of which has forced his opponents
to that supreme effort which is already
beginning to reveal it's results on the
battle front and behind it. The German
set out to destroy his enemies by sud-
den and terrific blow. He failed, and all
his subsequent blows have failed to de-
stroy the will or the military establish
ment Of his enemies. All the tremendous
profits which he drew from the collapse
OF Russia, all the advantages in numbers
which were consequence of the re-
moval OF the Slav armies, are rapidly
disappearing, and no further accessions
of strength to the German can be ex-
pected for the duration of the war
Henceforth time must run against him
steadily to that hour when the Ameri-
can troops have come in sufficient num-
bers to put him on the defensive per-
n1anently.
We have had very anxious moments in
the last three months. If the German
overestimated his possibilities, our allies
clearly and dangerously underestimated
them. 1t is too early to dismiss the
German effort as spent. Germany has
staked all on an immediate decision, and
she still has the men and the material
to make desperate attempts to win that
world domination which she sought at
the outset of the war. But, looking back
ward over the past three months, there is
no reason for pessimis1n, no reason for
despair. We have weathered the great
est military attack ever made in human
history. We have parried the German
when he had more power and more
chances of success than he ever can
have again in this war.
The recent successes along the Disc,
the even greater local victory at Rheims.
the magnificent rally Of Italy against the
hated Austrian oppressor-these are
signs of better days and the promise of
happier fortunes. Already there come
from Berlin and more clearly from
Vienna rumblngs of popular discontent
and disappointment, which may be ex-
aggerated but cannot be dismissed.
Hitherto our war years have begun with
victories and ended with defeats. It is
far from impossible that the campaign
which bad the worst beginning might
prove the best for the Allies in the whole
history Of the war.