Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-01

On the whole front the Germans
brought the enemy to a standstlil oy
august a. gS,t u on the old somme front
But this dislocation from the
Somme right down to the Matz had
materially affected that portion OF
the German line from the Matz to the
Disc, holding the Lassigny Heights,
which were a vital circumstance In
the New German front to the north:
Debeny had done their work. Hum
bert. with his third French army,
suddenly interviewed and by a series
of sharp attacks pushed the Germans
right over the Lassigny Heights,
across the tiny Divette and in upon
held at Roye and Chaulnes, it began
to give way at Lassigny.
But the diSlocation of the Germans
on the Lassigny Heights had weak
entng influence upon the Germans
across the Disc in the triangle be-
flank toward the Disc was becoming
menaced and the progressive disloca-
ton of the soft front between Arras
and Scissors now extended to the sec
tors between Noyon and scissors.
This situation was promptly recogo
blow, this time delivered by Mangin.
who had first struck at scissors.
south Of the Aisne, in the days Of the
second sMarne, but now transferred
the mass Of his 10th Army to the
north bank of the Aisne and struck
all the way from the Disc to the Aisne.
In three days he had bundled the Ger
mans out of all the strong positions
south of the Disc and west of the ALL
lette to the very edge of scissors:
He had taken $4,000 prisoners and
more than 200 guns. He: found him.
self by the middle of the week of
August 10 holding all the positions oc-
cupied by the French between the
Disc and the Aisne, held after the
March 81 offensive and before the
German attach of June 9. as far east
as the Athletic.
Byng Hits Hindenburg Line.
But by midweek Mangin's thrust
was losing it's force; the German lines
tageous ground. Humbert and Debeny
were still before the old Somme lines,
from Noyon to Roye; Rawlinson could
make further easy progress between
Albert and Roye. It was time to pro-
duce a new dislocation. Thereupon
mans between Albert and Arras.
whose position had been in small
degree compromised by the disloca-
tions which had taken place to the
south. The result. after somewhat
less rapid initial gain, was the swift
four days right up to the outskirts OF
Bapaume and as far as the old Hin
denbure lire to the north about Croi-
stiles.
This advance is the more interest
ing because it's consequences shed In.
teresting light upon the old battle OF
the Somme. In 1915 Haig had striven
to advance northeast along the AL
bert-Bapaume highroad and turn the
Germans out Of the high ground west
and on either bank Of the Ancre. He
had succeeded only after the terrible
summer and autumn campaign and he
did not reach the outskirts of Ba-
paume until the German retreat OF
March, 1917. But now, in less than
four days, Byng. maneuvering at the
north. was on the very edge of Ba-
paume and all the Germans in the old
and famous battle positions to the
south; Thiepval. with its adjoining re-
the ridge of 1916 battle history-was
evacuated; the dislocation. which had
before extended from south to north
was now extending from north to
south and the Germans were retiring
toward Peronne. right across the ia.
miliar country of the first battle OF
the Somme. 1t was becoming patent
that unless this dislocation were
promptly checked it was bound to ex-
tend still farther to the south and
compel the Germans to get out OF
Roye. Chaulnes and Noyon.
Further than thiS on Monday, Au.
gust g. when this article is written
the operative front of Byng had beer
suddenly extended ncrthward astride
the Scarpe. and the British were re.
taking positions familiar in the re.
ports of Allenby's Battle of Arras
begun on April o, 1917, just at the
close of the Hindenburg retreat. AL
ready the attack was approaching the
northern pivot of the soft" front, thu
positions about Lens.
Foch's Strategy and Its Aim.
Now it is essential to recognize a,
the outset that this Foch strategy
this strategy revealed in a series Of
blows, in the dislocation of a sector
of the front which would result IN
the destruction of the equilibrium il
adjoining sectors. was not strategy
based upon haphazard blows. The
whole series of attacks was perfect
ly co-ordinated and army followed
army into the attack, as various divi
sions wheel into line from side
streets to join a city procession. L
was a whole of many parts, but the
Parts were all perfectly fitted. MOI
have seen the limit of the applica
ton of the strategy. On the con
trary, new attacks by new armie!
seem inevitable.
Now, looked at from the broades
possible horizon. what does the Fool
strategy aim at? Primarily it aims a
destroying the organization and tn,
morale of the central German armie.
before they can reach a position OF
which the front will become STABILIZE
ed. Such a position exists in the oil,
Hindenburg line. To this there il
every reason to believe that tn
Germans are now turning, but tn
measure of the success of Foch will
not be found in the territory regain
ed when the Germans get back t,
their old defensive systems. but tn
condition in which they reach thes
systems and the cost to them in mel
and guns Of their retirement. Dom
look at the map between Arras an,
scissors, as long as the Hindenbur,
line stands. to get any measure o
allied success; read, rather, the dali,
lists of the totals of prisoners, gun
and materials captured. The groun,
| is a desert and in all human prob
ability Ludendorff, left to himself
would have retired at least as far a
the upper Somme If Rawlinson's sue
cessful thrust Of August 8 had beef
| solitary blow and not on in
carefully arranged series. Betwee,
the old Somme front and the linden
burg line there is only a desert: tn
man who has it behind him is tn
worse OF, because even the ways o
communication are lacking, while hi
troops in reserve are without cove
or protection against the weather.
"Costly" Retreat, Purpose.
Foch knew, Ludendorff knew, afte
August 8, that there would be a Ger
man retreat; probably both were sur
of It after the battle of the Marn
salient had turned against the Ger
man. Foch's problem was to proven
Ludendorn from repeating Hinden