New-York tribune., 1918-03-23
Hindenburg's Involuntary Choice

The gigantic enemy offensive in the
West is as yet an incomplete movement
In the first twenty-four hours it certainly
did not meet German expectations. But
it is too early to say that it has failed
We, on this side of the water, cannot yet
envisage the enemy's effort. There can
be no seasoned judgment on the attack
1t may be the foes final cast and a gen
uine attempt to break through the Allied
battle zone
At the instant it looks more like a vast
defensive measure-an effort at once to
restore invaluable positions in vital
fighting field, to disrupt the carefully
lid plans of the Allied Supreme War
Council for the coming campaign, and
to secure an ersotz victory to feed the
German soul through the summer.
One aspect of the drive. however,
stands out with startling clarity and goes
far to explain the lack of secrecy with
which it was launched
Hindenburg, if he chose to meet the
British rather than the French, was act
ually pinned within the limits of his pres
ent attack. Two years Of Allied success
on the West front have done that. Last
spring, at the end of his retreat, Hinden-
burg held all the high and strategically
important ground on a se'ccted line run
ming from the sea to the Swiss border.
BY December he had lost practi; ally all
of it. From Verdun to Ypres Haig OF
Petaln occupied every commanding crag
that sprang from the French plain, wit,
the exception of the heights behind St.
Quentin and the swift plateau on which
Laon stands.
Therefore Hndenburg struck the Brit
ish upon the only extended stretch of
territory which he could use to deliver a.
broad blow. Haig knew where it must
fall. Likewise, upon the French front
there is but single gap leading into the
heart of France into which the German
command may fling its legions. Petain
Is prepared.
1t has been said that the Germans
wish to restore open warfare, especially
against the British, who, save for the i'm
mortal retreat Of the Old Contemptibles
from Mons, have had little experience in
this form of battle. Where had they been
left the scope to inaugurate such an ex-
pertinent? Not along the coast, with the
British sea power on one side and great
flooded lake on the other. Not at Ypres.
with Haig's men rooted on the heights of
Passchendaele Not below the ruined
Flemish city, with British shell fire sweep
ng down from the Messines Ridge. Ger
tainiy not between Lens and Arras, only
to back up determined enemy against
the crests of Hill 70 and Vimy Ridge
Not even in the valley of the Scarpe,
with Monchy-le-P Preux a British citadel.
- Obviously Hindenburg's only avenue
iay In the comparatively open country
from point northwest of Cambria (the
Scnsee Brook TO the new and not vet
cemented junction between the British
and French at La Fere. Even so. he was
seriously embarrassed by the rupture in
the continuity of the Hindenbure line
which Byng and his tanks achieved las.
November and the lapse of time which
gave Halg twelvemonth to fortify the
Verman-madc desert behind him.
Ihe measure of British success at the
somme and during 1917 is to be found
III the simple statement that, had tho
haiser been able at this time last year
10 make the same stupendous effort as
,ha' OF Friday and from the points of
departure ne then possessed, Hindenburg
might have ridden under the Arc de Tri-
omphe within three weeks.