Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-04
Must Not Relax,
Maurice Warns
By MAJOR GENERAL SIR FRED.
ERICK B. MAURICE
Continued from Page Ono

ture OF MOnCny last week were, take
it. but an advance guard, and the full
effect of the movement has now been
seen in tine breaking of the Drocourt
line. They have also won by hard
lighting, and it is not possible that our
war losses should have remained as
!, extraordinarily low as thev were q
week ago, not that there is any reason
to believe them to be excessive, and
they have been more tnan compen-
sated for better results obtainec.
For these we must look beyond the
actual battlefield. A week ago. when
was in France. no one expected to
Bailleul and Estaires without a battle
which would cost us many thousands
of casualties.
The enemy has been forced to with
draw from all these places and to make
considerable readjustment of his front
In Flanders, which may go further be-
cause of his heavy losses further south,
and because he had to find troops to
meet Sir Douglas Haig's advance to-
ward Douai and Cambria. Thus our
gains in Flanders must be added to our
gains in Picardy when we are balanc-
Ing accounts of past battles, nor must
it be forgotten that our victories have
freed the French coal fields, which had
to close down in consequence of the
German advance into Flanders last
April. This is matter which touches
lis all very closely, for it means that
the call which France has been forced
to make upon us for coal will before
many months are past be reduced, and
Sir Guy Calthrop will be relieved of
some Of his anxieties.
Bethne Within Grasp
Furthermore, the Arras-Albert.
Amiens railway is again in our hands,
and there is an excellent prospect that
before long and for the first time in
the war we shall be able to see an ex-
tension Of that railway through Lens
to Bethune. This will give US a great
Increase in maneuvering powers and
France very improved facilities for
her coal supply.
The breach which We thus made in
the Wotan line, otherwise known as
the Drocourt switch, is one more proof
OF the truth of what / was saying last
week.
The barrier in the west has ceased
to be impenetrable. NO line can now
stop an attack by our tanks backed by
short but very intense bombardment,
and above all, by our men, provided we
keep battalions up to strength and give
them ample opportunities for training.
But we must not expect miracles There
is sound old military maxim, hope
for the best and prepare for the worst
The one fatal course Is to hope for
the best and do nothing
cannot be accused of underestimate
ing our prospects in the past AS far
back as August IL / said that it was
legitimate to hope that the effect of
Haigs victory of August s, would be to
cause the enemy to fall back over the
Somme at Peronne, and to readjust his
front north of that river. That fore
cast was based not SO much upon the
efKect of the gain of ground which had
been made, but upon the effect of the
losses which had been inflicted upon
the enemy since August 8. His losses
have been increasingly heavy, and his
need for shortening his front grows
greater.
49, Must Keep Up Pressure
We may, therefore, hope to see the
enemy still further east before long, but
hat does not mean that complete vic
tory is yet in sight, for he can and is
shortening his front line, while our men
have had hard year and cannot go on
fighting hard much longer unless they
are kept up to full strength. Now that
the enemy is yielding 1t is time to keep
up pressure on him. and, therefore, there
IL greater need than ever for every
economy which We can make to release
men for the front.
The enemy is on the down-grade and
we have just been told that ne has had
to break up eight divisions and had to
appeal to disparaged Austria for help.
That process of breaking up divisions
nurt continue and will be hastened as a
connequence OF Haig.s last victory. but
4 1oee not mean that the enemy Is ex-
1GtA1 without Austrian help. He has
1iTnions. which is about what we
kNxe. IT u true that the average
r cur divisions IL greater. par
~ Qf the American divisions,
1gr9 IN strength Il, not ret
s'e Ee<h 20 strike the