The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-05
NOW BATTLE OF POWER
Will Huns be Able to Get
Hold on North Bank
of Aisne?
FOE Is DESPERATE.
Believe Allies Will Drive
Wedge Into German
Line to Northwest
of scissors.

"hSihuStOu. aug 4-Wlu TINS
Germans be able to establish a hold
ing line on the heights along the
north bank of the Aisne, or will the
Franco American drive to the north
eastward OF Scissors force the enemy
TO fall back to their strong positions
along the Chemin- des- Danes, the
great highway bordering the south
bank Of the Ailette river?
This question sums up the poten-
tial possibilities Of the battle situa.
ton as reflected in late dispatches re-
cciyed here by military experts. AL
He'd military students are not agreed
on what may reasonably be expected
from the harti-hitting divisions which
In the past week have brought JOY
To the heart of every German enemy
and have sent across the German
empire the first great wave of dread
and fear to sap at the morale OF the
conquest naddened junkers.
One group, and IL Is to be noted
that 1t is the group which held that
the Germans would stand fast on the
VeSle river. hold that no military
mind can reasonably hope that the
attacking divisions can sweep the
enemy from the heights north OF the
Aisne for some time to come. The
second group, pointing to the success
Of the Franco American engineers in
outwftting and outgaming the Ger
mans In carrying forward the work OF
maintaining clear lines or communi-
cation. believe that the German line
on the Aisne win be Thanked from
the west and that the close of the
week will see the Germans battlin.
desperately to hold the line on the
Ailette river.
The first or conservative gronp of
these. ASSIGNED 10 the stndy OF The
pfoEress Of the wnr present several
strong arguments IN support Of the
theory that the German army will be
able to make a stand on a line over
LOOKING the Aisne- They point to
the communique received today from
General Pershing. They contend that
the opening statement to the effect
that the allies have reaped the ''fuIl
fruits OF the victory" clearly are in
tended as q warning TO the people of
this country not to expect continued
advance by the allied forces. These
observers also state that there is no
justification for the belief that Gen.
ernl Foch will use many more re-
serves in an effort to break the re-
treating lines OF the army of the
crown prince
Reserves and many OF them must
be used to relieve the forces which
already have struggled manfully for
days in the most difficult style OF
fighting conceivable. Emphasis Is
placed on the fact that on the nor b
hank Of the Aisnc. only six miles
from Soissons, the Germans have re-
built Fort de Condo, formerly a
strong French fortress. which Is sup
ported ON all sides by tefrai in most
favorable for defending army. II
IL held that this point could he made
a powerful keystone for the German
lire, being supported TO the east by
high ground as far east as Berry -au-
Rae, one Of the great German 60 =
municatfon centers.
The observers who refuse to ac-
cept the foregoing contentious place
great faith on the ability OF the al
lies to drive steadily northwari,
many eminent military experts hold.
ing that the ground to the northwest
OF SCISSORS does not present insur-
nounfable obstacles to an army such
~ It appears General Foch fras now
welded into one OF the mightic<t en-
ginee OF destruction In military his
tory. These men say that any army
which can overcome n foe number
ing at least 300, 900 flghting on an
interior line. has the reserve strength
necessary to drive a wedge into the
8l6fu4n IXnG I'D tUG HOFtIhWtSt III
Scissors. Should such q Vancouver
be accomplished II Is agreed that a
German line OF defense on the Aisne
heights would be made at once I'M
tcnable.
There appears small reason for the
Germans to attempt great effort to
hold the line on the Aisne. The
strong Chcmin-des- Danes line rs
only from three to five miles to the
northward and by this time all DAM
age to its communicating lines infiict-
ed by artillery has been repaired.
Moreover, were the Germans to
take MP = position on the Aisnc. their
lines or communication. being for the
most part unprotected by wot,ds or
natural defcnses. would be continual
" under the devastating fire OF the
allied artillery and airmen.
or more Immediate interest. per-
hnps, Ia the campaign indicated by
the action Of the allied line on the
Rheims front moving across the
vcslc. Much importance attaches to
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