Evening star., 1918-04-11
HUNS CHANCE OF A WAR OF
MOVEMENT LOST, EXPERT SAYS
Col. Azan of France Writes Frank H. Simonds
of Danger to German Armies-Believes
Allies Will Hold

known that an attack during retreat
may easily occasion disaster.
THUS Gen. Foch seems to hold his
prey in his hands. The situation as It
exists today was certainly not foreseen.
IT Is not the result Of strategic calcula-
tion. but It may turn to the advantage
OF. the allies. The reason why tho gen
eral reserve army Of the allies has not
yet intervened is probably that 1t has
not yet been fully constituted. The or
der Of Gen. Pershing placing the Amer
lean troops at the disposal Of Gen. Foch
the appointment of Gen. Foch is an
other proof that there had previously
not been unity Of command. Gen. Foch
knows better than any one else how to
utilize this army Of reserves. He doubt
tho battle until he is certain that there
will not be another German attack
somewhere else: he knows enough to
wait also until the enemys reserves
til, little by little. his troops have been
decimated by this long battle; he knows
that one fresh man Is worth ten tired.
demoralixed ones. So the day he does
send his reserve into action may marx
the beginning of a great victory.
-Four Invariable Phases.
Every day I read in tho papers and
magazines statements and opinions
which cause great perplexity and con-
fusion at home. and may well cost tho
lives Of hundreds and thousands Of men
at the front. Therefore, am most anx-
ious to inculcate the conviction that
have at heart into the minds of all who
are interested in this war, and particu-
larly Of those who have been given com
mands. To this end 1t will suffice Tor
me to demonstrate how the theory OF
the war of positions. which has been al
ready proved by the battles of Verdun.
Of the Somme and of the Atsne, Ii more
than ever confirmed by the events Of
today.
According to my theory, offensive
strategy consists in choosing zones Of
attack, in striving to capture In each OF
these zones q series Of positions eche-
cupy xones OF such Importance that the
enemy will be compelled to evacuate
tho adjacent xones and to realigp his
front farther back. This is Just what
tempting to occupy the zone whose key
is the very important center OF COM
munications at Amiens. But up to the
present they have attacked only on this
xone.
What has occurred on this zone? The
combat there has developed In the four
invariable phases whose cycle inevitably
reproduces itsen-preparation Of attack.
attack, pursuit and march Of approach.
These four phases. however, are of vary
ing lengths and importance, according to
circumstances.
1.-THE Germans, desiring to effect sur
prise In tho preparation Of attack, greatly
shortened the artillery preparation, which
sometimes lasts for days; but they made
up for this by increasing the role Of the
accomplishments OF cannon, Of tanks, Of
smoke clouds and Of gas.
1.-THE attack was conducted in accord
ance with the regular rules in the form
OF waves. with fresh troops constantly
poured into the struggle to relieve their
exhausted comrades. The accompanying
cannon played the part that normally fell
to them. :,
Duration Of Pursuit Limited.
"The pursuit was effected with the
formations and by the use Of the diff
ferent arms peculiar to this phase of
the combat. This phase takes place be-
tween our position and that next be-
hind 1t. II in this case it has extended
to . considerable depth 1t 10 because
the positions in the rear Of those in the
front line were either non-existent or
unoccupied. Sometimes. doubtless, by
dint of speed and surprise. successive
positions may be rapidly carried one
after another, and in such cases the
the greatest caution. the preparation Is
insignificant and the attack on a posi-
tion seems as II It were the oontinua-
tion of the preceding one; but when
the attacking troops encounter posi-
bravely defended they must necessarily
come to q halt. The duration Of the
pursuit, then. is determined by two fac
Yspi ifsss.tsrH. sae0unt.-ins of position
''second-Ths difficulty Of mavtng up
hAAyy aPtilloxR