Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-09-14

= bI D.. W. II. N1kA0ON
Famous American Military Authority
Americas millions begin their inva-
sion of German territory, in the final
offensive of the war, they will be able
to cross the Rhine at many points if
the necessities of the campaign re-
quire it.
The German army cannot retire
behind the Rhine. take up defensive
positions. and defy the world to do
its worst. The Rhine is vulnerable.
Furthermore, every important city
on the Rhine is situated on the west
bank. Americas armies will not
have to cross the river to capture
Strassburg, Mayence, Coblence or
Cologne. They are ready now for
seizure on the near side.
But, before reaching the Rhine, the
Americans must first break Ger
many's great offensive line, which
runs from Metz, southwark to Cha
teau Salins, then southeast through
S%aarburg to Strassburg.
This front, across the border from
French Lorraine, Is Germany's first
stronghold against invasion. 1t is
probably the most heavily fortified
line in the world, and the most scien-
bl4CdAAy C0A5lI ACtC0. az VI IL lb a
remarkable web of military railways,
constructed years g for the purpose
of preventing a French army getting
into Germany. The key to the line is
Saarburg, where immense strategic
railway yards have been constructed.
The defenses have been planned
with unusual care, not only because
they guard the Rhine. Immediately
to the north OF the line are the great
coal and iron fields of the Saar dis
trict. These fields are one of the
three main mining groups In Ger
many. II they are captured by the
Americans, as they will be, Ger
many's munitions output will be seri-
ously curtailed. One reason for be-
IlievinR thai General Pershing's plan
of campaign calls for an invasion of
Germany northward through Lor-
raine is because of the. location of
the Saar mines so nea to the Amer
lean front in France.
Rhine Extensively Fortified.
Having moved back the Metz-Cha-
teau, Salins4Saarburg line, and hav-
ing got possession Of the Lorraine
mineral area, the Americans may then
be expected TO reach out further east
for the Rhine, and widen their front
The Rhine is lavishly supplied with
fortress protection. From the Swiss
border ~northward, the principal for
tresses are Neu Breisach, St~rassburg.
Germersheim, Mayence/(or Mainz),
Coblence with Ehrenbreltsteinl,
Cologne and Wesel. or these, the
only fortresses on the east bank are
Wesel, which is a defense against In
vasion from Holland, and Ehrenbreit-
stein.
Regardless of their situation. the
value of these fortresses for defensive
purposes has been greatly reduced by
tactical Developments during the past
four years. Before the present war
began, many believed in the impreg-
inability of the Rhine line. Not so
now. The German guns that reduced
Liege, Antwerp, Maubeuge and other
entrenched camps early in the war.
made obsolete the Rhine fortihca-
tons.
The allies now have similar annon
of their own. At long range they will
be able to pulyerize any fortified Ger
man. position above ground which the
kaiser may be foolhardy enough to
defend.
This doesn't mean the Germans
cannot protect a single point along
the Rhine by a lavish use of men
The French defended Verdun. but It
wasn't verdun that defended France.
Verdun. equal in strength to- any
Rhine fertilization, was held from the
enemy not by its own immobile guns.
but by the infantry and mobile a n
non that protected the citadel In dis
tant outlying positions.