Evening journal., 1918-08-10
GERMANS PUZZLED
BY MIXED TROOPS
Critics Cannot Agree on
Which of the Allies Did
Most Fighting
GIVE AMERICANS
MUCH CREDIT

AMSTERDAM Aus. iO-Revlews Of
German critics on the military sltua-
ton In the west disclose curious diver
gonclos OF opinion as 10 who bore the
brunt OF the attack on the allied side.
The Cologne Gazetto's writer declares
the white Frenohmen did all the nght-
lns. while The Frankfurt Gazette states
that on the contrary the white French
men were spared for political reasons"
and that on the Americans fell the full
weight OF the lighting The Berlin
Lokalanzelger asserts that the Italians
were the ones who ''bled" while others
declare that the senegalese and the Mo
rooeans took the main part in the nght-
Ing.
Few OF the writers venture TO predict
what VIII happen next. The consensus
seemed 20 be that II was doubtful
whether Marshal Foch would feel
strong enough 10 risk a frontal attack
on The new German main line siright-
ened out as 10 has been.
II he does says the military expert
OF the Nachrlchten OF Hamburg, I'VE
must reckon with an extension OF the
lighting area to the north OF the Aisne,
In the COmpelgne region, because II ls
there alone that the possibility OF an
enclrclIng attack offers itself"
The same authority devotes some
space 10 explaining why the Germans
evacuated scissors. The evacuation. 10
says, was due 20 the face that after the
new defensive line was reached both
the city and the heights around n lost
their tactical value and became a pro-
pecting bridgehead. which was expos
ed 70 encircling attacks and concen-
trio artillery fre lts retention. the
writer declares. would have meant the
tying up of strong forces under unfa-
vorable conditions.
Amid the chorus Of praise for the
"brilllancy executed strategic rearward
movement the Cologne Gazette eau
tiously expresses the opinion that II ls
too early yet 30 say which side wins
on the balance.
History offers no precedent" says
Gen. Won Ardenne IN the Dusseldorf
Naohrichten. "for the fact that the vic
tor. after three victorious battles, re-
tires from the field embarrassed by the
enemy 10 take up positions further in
/ the rear. This Is difflcult 10 under
stand he added, and he proceeds "a
/ explain how by a marvellous exhibition
OF sef-cOntrol the Germans refralnec
from pushing their attacks home wher
TO do so would have cost too muet
precious German blood" He Is bound
however, 10 admit that 'the maneuvr
Of carrying the enemy's first lines wit
a rush and following Il up by a dee
thrust into the ground behind. while
had succeeded four times, failed @
July IS"
Gen. con Ardenne likewise makes q
interesting admission that the Germa
had possibly underestlmated the q
emyls strength IN numbers" and IN
thermore he asserts that IN the To-
territory the French have the advar
tage IN railway communications whlo
Is precisely the same complaint n
made when the French still stood ol
the south bank OF the Marine
Eugene kaickschmidt, the war CORE
spondent OF the Frankford Gazette. II
! commenting on the Americans larg,
share IN the fighting SAYS:
"rhe Americans stood their baptism
Of fire not badly. They went through
10 pluckily enough. but quickly learned
respect for our machine guns. Charges
are made that they fired on the wound
ed and at times tried 20 mislead our
men by calling 10 them IN German. Ad-
venturOus elements are plentiful In the
American first waves They are better
In attack than In defence"