New-York tribune., 1918-06-05

fall back in perfect order, slowly,
end maintaining a withering fire on
the Boche as we retreated.
II have never before seen such
heap of German dead But the
Germans surely put a surprise on
US in their preparations for the
push. We knew he had fairish
number of troops in front of the
Solssons-Rheims line, but not like
what he developed, with divisions
brought up in the night from Rethel
Vouziers, where they were assem-
bled and concealed.
THE whole Allied machinery has
worked smoothly and with precision
throughout this difficult experience
and shown the Importance and sue
cess of amalgamation and unity of
command. The transport service,
particularly, has been most efficient.
supplies of food and munitions
coming forward, following us with
out delay or confusion"
Fail to Split Allies
AS at Noyon, so here at SCISSORS
and Rheims, the German drove hard
est at the junction of the French
and British lines, but this time
found it firmly welded and failed
to make the break he counted on,
although, to smash the contact, he
introduced tanks and poured in
compact masses Of troops.
| find no thought among the mill
tary that the present attack implies
the abandonment of the Somme
Amlens- -ArrasYpres purpose. 1t was
viewed originally as diversion to be
exploited as far and with as much
lorce as Its initial success warranted,
end always as threat at Paris. The
last development suggests that the i'm
mediate German plan was an attempt
at a converging movement on Paris
from the Montdidier-N Noyon- Scissors
line, down the Disc and along the
| Marne.
Foes Reserves Heavy
The Germans have 210 divisions
now on the West front, and there are
neavy reserves still back of Noyon and
Montdldier which may be sent down
the Disc to further exploit the Aisne
success or be kept for renewed drive
on the Channel ports and further
eHort to separate the main armies of
the French and British, which the
military feel sure will come
Used in any direction, such reserves
make the present very serious situa-
ton. However, officers and soldiers
are facing the issue determinedly and
with the utmost confidence All France
is calm and unafraid Meanwhile, both
armies are man9uvring in the open,
the Allies carrying with minimum
forces German host which outnum-
bers them four to one
In this moment of movement, too,
great stress should not be laid on the
taking of given town, or even the
advance of an army. which may mean
much or nothing in the strategical
game which the High Command is play
edge of the real situation from reports
it is necessary always to keep in mind
the difference of the Allied method
Of using men economically, giving
ground to save reserves, and the Ger
man method Of using large shock
forces regardless Of the cost of life,
with a view to securing an initial
success that will paralyze the oppo-
nent.
1t cannot be denied that the initial
success of this German thrust, due to
! thorough and concealed preparation
and overwhelming numbers, has been
! considerable. or that the loss of the
Craonne plateau and Chemin des
Danes, which the French dearly won
last year, and, l may add, the Aisne
line, are all heavy and serious But
there is every confidence here among
the military and civil population that
the Germans not only will be stopped
but beaten back
There is in the air to- day a feeling
of our being on the verge of a mo-
mentous occasion, such as a great bat
tie along the Montddicr Soissons-
Chateau Thierry line would be- France,
which has faced the Marne, the User,
the Somme and Verdun, is not to be
embarrassed by another challenge of
| the Hun.