Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-05-31
The Lesson for America OF The
German Offensive

that a modern entrenched line
can be broken. She proved it at
the Isonzo, on the Somme, and
in Flanders. Also she has proved
that, in order to secure an abso-
lutcly decisive result, not only
must the line be broken, but the
breach must be maintained. II
the enemy's line is to be burst
apart and rolled up on its broken
TANKS, and the organization Of
his armies is to be destroyed by
ceaseless onslaught, resulting in
captures and dispersion, the at
lacking force must maintain its
original strength and its original
mobility until a decision has been
reached. Germany has thrice
succeeded in the first half Of the
program, and thrice she has
failed in the second. She has
failed because she lacked both
the numbers and the swift
mobility which are the absolute
prerequisites for success.
The indications are that the
present German attempt will
prove to be abortive. If so,
Hindinburg will have to dig
in where he stands. Or, if
General toch should launch a
great offensive when the German
rush has spent itself, it is con-
ceivable that the enemy may be
thrown back upon the linden
burg line, and hold there for the
winter months.
# so, what then? What of the
campaign Of 1919? What is to
be Americas part in that cam
paign?
1t is with the fullest %apprecia-
ton Of the unbroHen strength
and dauntless spirit Of our AL
lies, hat We say that the issues
Of 1919 will be determined by the
size and character Of the forces
which we have ON French soil by
the summer Of next year.
The German line can be broken
there is no doubt about that.
Furthermore it can be broken
permanently and to such a depth,
that the whole line from the
Channel to the Alps, in self-de-
Tense and for its very security,
will be obliged to fall back.
This can be done, but it can
be done only if America at once,
today, begins to mobilize its
whole strength in manpower,
machinery and munitionmen,,
with a view to having 5000, 900
men in France by the summer Of
1919, with l,500, 600 available as
a mobile army of attack.
Remembering hat mass and
mobility are the sine qua non for
the army that can break through
and keep going, this force, both
IN It's training and equipment,
should be supremeIy adapted for
rapid and irresistible follow-up
movement. 1t should be an
army of marksmen, and its main
reliance should be upon the rifle.
Our most excellent Browning
gun, both the shoulder piece and
the machine gun, should be sup
piled up to the limit at which the
bringing up of ammunition would
act as a drag upon mobility. Also,
with an eye to mobility, the field
artillery should be restricted to
the French rs; and if any As or
ATS are included, they should
be motor-mounted, Indeed, it is
"A question whether for a break
through and follow-up army such
as this, it would not be advisable
to have the whole of the artillery
~motor-mounted or at least motor
hauled. A burst of shrapneI
that would put an artillery team
out of action. might fail to dis
able a motor truck.
Furthermore, such an army
should depend exclusively upor
motor truck service for its sup.
ply train. Our great motor.
truck industry, if fully modified,
should be capable of supplying,
within the next twelve months.
all the TRANSFORMATION required.
With an army of 800, 600 mer
so equipped, composed of troops
iutensively trained in marksman.
ship; supplied with a vast mum.
Der Of our light Browning ma
chine guns and automatics, and
a proportionate force of motor
. AN L.. -. ~