The Washington herald., 1918-04-18
Good News.

The British withdrawal from the Ypres salient
has not compromised the defensive operations in
Flanders as much feared by military men.
Even the possession of the Passchendaele
heights and Messines Ridge by the Germans
although it does not appear that the British have
entirely abandoned these key ponts-does not
licve Hindenburg from the necessity of increasing
pressure on the British lines if he is to gain his
objcctivcs There is grave doubt whether he
will find it possible 10 maintain the present pres
sure on the Haig armies. much less increase it
1t is certainty that the French armies which
Haig reported six days ago were marching rapidly
support" somewhere the bat
tie liue-probaby in the rear, ready to be flung
into the tray for the final struggle for the posses
sion OF the Channel ports The whole Northern
Flanders line ought to be strengthened by this
time that Hindcnburg will find Dunkrk as impos-
sible reach he did Amiens Dunkigk is only
twenty miles along the coast of the English Chan
mel from Nieuport, where tie German-Bclgian line
approximately stands. 1t is important military
port which the Germans have bombarded fire.
quently. Its faIl would be serious blow to the
British not serious OF course. thrust at
Calais or Boulogne. but bad enough.
We arc within hailing distance OF this
German drive to the Channel, this colossal effort
to destroy the British armies by cutting their lines
OF communication. Although Field Marshal Haig
reported some effective counter strokes yesterday,
Including the partial reoccupaton of Wytschaete
and the rccapture OF Mcteren. it is clear that the
German, ii he is willing TO pay the price in human
lie, car force the great crisis OF the battle within
the next few days. But it is inconceivable that
he will win what he has undertaken to win. The
British have cxacted their price for the gains OF
terrain which Hindenburg has registered. 1t is
price which cannot continue to be paid even by
such a profigate spender OF human blood as the
imperial German staff has proven itself to be- But
the price will not continue to be stationary. 1t
will be mounting higher all the time, for the
serves OF Foch soon will be heard FROM
Nevertheless the drive at the Channel ports is
an essential part of the German program, and
there will be turning from it until the attack
itself is blunted and stopped. AS long the
Bochc divisions eat their way further into the Brit
ish lines Hindenburg and Ludendorff will keep
unrcmttiugly at it. Their slcdge-hammer frontal
offensive has given the French and British gen
erals more anxious moments than they dreamed
OF SIX weeks ago. There need be no hesitation
about admitting that fact whole new
chapter of American psychology has been
written since the word flashed across the
Atlantic that the great attack had begun hardly
more than our weeks ago. The initial success OF
the German offensive is admitted with the reserva-
ton that the German hope for either separating
the Franco-British armies of destroying any
part OF them, OF SO lowering allied morale that
reasonable peace terms will be gladly considered,
is lar from realization
But the struggle is only beginning to reach its
climax OF intensity. The dagger is being brandshed
close to the heart of the allied cause. 1t will
do to let it get much closer. A single misstep
might be almost fatal in its results.