The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-04-25

that the resistance offered Dy the
French and British has been proper
toned to the force of the blow and
the requirements Of retreat with the
least possible loss. The element OF
Ignorance or surprise may be regard
ed as eliminated in this struggle De-
tween veteran strategists on the long
contested battlefield.
The German attack was first report
ed as being directed against the Brit
ish lines southwest and west of Cam
'brai Shortly afterward we heard OF
fighting between st. Quentin and La
Fere and of the German advance to-
ward Ham. In the northern part OF
the field the severest fighting develop
ed northwest of Bapaume, around the
head of the Ancre valley. In the CEN
ter the attack was pressed against
Peronne, and in the south an effort
was made to cross the Somme in the
vicinity of Ham and to advance to
Nesle. Plainly the immediate object
for which the different operations were
scheduled was to drive the British in
to two positions from which retreat,
would be difficult, and to outflank the
obstacles behind these two positions.
In the north the triangular area isol-
ated by the marshes of the Somme and
the valley of the Ancre formed one
pocket. In the south the great bend
of the Somme between ST. Quentin
and Peronne formed another. In each
case the marshy river valleys offered
obstacles to retreat, and the capture
of Peronne split the retiring forces In
the center while seizing the principal
crossing. 1t was, no doubt defended
with a tenacity that deprived the en-
hemy of much of the expected fruits Of
his strategy, but it is probably a safe
Inference that the guns and prisoners
lost were taken because Of the natural
difficulties opposed to retreat.
The position in which the British
have elected to stand in the northern
part of the field is entrenched by the
valley of the Ancre. They did not at
tempt to hold the high ground south
west of Bapaume, from which in 1916
they forced the Germans only after
four months fighting. They did not
pause until they had placed between
them and the enemy the deep trench
that can be crossed only at enormous
sacrifice. An advance farther north,
in the vicinity of Arras, will be far
less costly for either one of the OPP
ponents, and it is there. from Ayette
to Fampoux, that We now hear of re-
peated German attacks and stubborn
British defense.
In the southern part of the field the
French held firm along the Disc and
its canals. from La Fere to Noyon. The
line to which they fell back farther
west lies along low hills that extend
to Lassigny southwest of a little trib-
utary of the Disc, and thence toward
Montdidier along the line of the Las
signy- Montdidier railway. The Ger
mans took and hold Montdidier, sta
ton on one fthe railroads connect
ing Amiens and Paris, but elsewhere
they have not been able effectively to
cross the little river Arve, which runs
northwest to the Somme and, like the
Ancre, offers strong defensive posi-
ton. 1t protects the allies as far as
Moreuil At that point, however, their
front turns north by east, and
stretches across the angle between the
fArve an dthe Somme about II miles
southeast of Amiens. Here we may
rexpect the heaviest German attack,
for it is the least defensible part of
the allied line and nearest to Amlens.
Any advance here is sure, nevertheless
to cost the Germans very dearly, for,
If the allies retire farther they will
place themselves behind the Somme
and the Arve and have the Germans in
narrow corner commanded by the
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