South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-19


further 70 the north. between Lou
vain and Antwerp. The envelop-
ment and capture since it would
cut their lines Of communication
and retreat.
II is only al The Aleuse that the
Germans will have a defensive line
OF really great natural strength for
the Meuse is a cOnsidera bic stream
below Namur. They would have
the forts Of Liege and Namur
which have been reconstructed as
supporting works. and good and easy
rearward communications with
Germany IF the Germans are TO
make any successful stand west of
the Rhine they must make it on the
Meuse and they have long recog-
nized this fact Since they have in
sisted in days OF prosperity that the
new frontier OF Germany should
begin at the Meuse river.
Despite their very heavy defeats
the Germans have, up to the pres
ent moment, preserved their armies
intact although the latest collapse
may turn out TO be fatal To the
whole scheme Of an orderly retreat
TO the Meuse line. Unquestionab bly,
they have forseen the necessity OF
the retreat for some weeks and have
already brought back much OF their
heavy artillery and material TO the
ultimate line OF defense. Short of
a disaster. always possible, when
troops have been pounded for so
long a time as the German armies
have been, We may expect 70 see a
fairly rapid evacuation OF most OF
Belgium in the next fortnight in
Guiding Antwerp and Brussels.
Concentrated behind the Meuse
if they can get there safely, the
Germans will have shortened their
front by upwards of 100 miles as
compared with the front of last
July, even more important fc~ them
will be the fact that they will have
between them and the terrible tank
water barrier, which will for
time at least hold up the operation
of what has become the most dan
gerous OF their foes. All things con-
sidered. the Germans seem TO have
about an even chance OF getting be
hind the Meuse in safety provided
their home front does not crumble
before their battle line collapse.
But the line OF the Meuse can
only be a way station on the road
TO the Rhine, because. once the Ger
mans have retired 10 IT, nothing is
more certain than that FOch will
renew his attack not on Belgium
but in Alsace where there
is no water barrier and the oppor-
tunity for q successful invasion.
both through the Belfort Gap and
between Metz and Strassburg is un-
mistakable A stand at the Meuse
will be no more than an effort 70
check pursuit while the diplomatic
end OF the German machine can
make terms which will save the
military branch from complete de-
struction.
While the German armies north
Of Valenciennes are swung back il
is a matter Of life and death for the
balance Of the enemy forces be-
tween Nalenciennes and Dun and
particularly between the Argonne
and the Meuse. where our two
American armies are lighting north
ward TO hold back the food which.
If II should break through would
swirl behind the retreating north
I ern armies. envelOp them against
the Dutch frontier and repeat on
/ enormous scale the French disaster
/ OF Sedan. For the next few days
i the possibility VIII ne real II remote,
but ii will he inescapable if there is
any collapse anywhere.
The Germans are thus approach
Ing the last ditch where they must
stand i they are 20 prevent an in
Vasion OF Germany a. the point
where they can least resist invasion
namely along the Belgian frontier
west OF AK a Chapeue. Such an
invasion would meet next 20 no ma
tural obstacle and no military bar
T-iie- IN the way OF fortresses until
ii reached the Rhine before Col
ogne II would have an open road
. ] rs.T