New-York tribune., 1918-04-10

calclc to and which wgs submitted at
that time, two or three months ago.
and think that IT was one Of the mos.
remarkable forecasts OF enemy inten-
tons that were ever made.
British Expected to Retire
AS matter of fact, the attack was
made up, think. by about ninety-seven
divisions. 1t was an attack on the
widest front that had ever been en-
gagged. It's object undoubtedly was the
capture OF Amiens anG the severance
or the British and French forces. 50
that, almost IN every detail, that very
remarkable forecast has been verified
IN the event.
"Another remarkable prediction was
that 1t nj Sht probably succeed in nene-
tratng the British line to the extent
OF haii the distance of the front at
lacked. hey came TO that conclusion
from close exam mination of the often
sives Of the war.
There Was another ADVANTAGE There
was. first of all. the advantage which
the Germans had rom having the IN
!ti+tive. There was further advant-
age they had, and this undoubtedly was
the greatest advantage, from having n
The Germans undoubtedly relied on
thls to very large extent for their
success. They owe much of the suc-
cess Of this attack to this.
1T was. reported to me on GOOD
authority that the Kaiser informed ex
King Coastantine: 1 shall beat them
for they have no united commanj.'
Which shows that that was what they
were relying in the main upon: that
although their numbers wcre slightly
inferior they knew the importance that
was TO be attached 30 the fact that
there was perfectly united command.
"And that is an obvious advantage.
for. if the risks in one particular part
Of the line are great. and in another
part of the line are great, but substan-
TALLY less than in the former. with one
command there is no hesitation in the
mind Of the n-chief as to
which risk he Will make the greatest
provision against.
with two separate commands the
problem is a different one: il is more
difficult to adjust the balance Of risk,
and the general is always naturally in
cllned to give himself and his army
the benefit of any doubt. That may
be because if anything goes wrong
there he is to Re held responsible to
his own countrymen for the safety Of
his army
Weather Aided Germans
The enemy had another incidental,
but, as it turned out. very important
advantage that Of weather. Excep-
:ional weather favored his designs. 1t
was both dry and misty the attack
which succeeded was made on that part
of the line where under ordinary spring
conditions the ground would have been
almost impossible.
4 ~ -
mine to-day, n general, that under or
dinary conditions no one could walk
across the part which was traversed d
by the Germans at this time Of the
year. But it just happened to be abso-
iutely dry and firm. and they walked
across ground which no one had any
right to expect at this time Of year
would be In that condition.
Not only that, but the fact that it
was warm Increased the mist. and the
Germans We're actually in some parts
within q few yards Of our front line
before any one knew Of their ap-
proach. 1t was quite impossible to OBJ
serve them. This was a special disad-
vantage to us inasmuch as our scheme
OF organization in that particular part
of the line depended largely upon the
cross-line fire of machine guns and ar
tlilery. They had therefore a very spe-
clai advantage, of which they made the
fullest use.
British Army Saved Europe
with regard to the battle itself, as
have already stated it will take some
time to ascertain the whole facts At
one time it was undoubtedly very criti-
cal. The enemy broke through between
our third and fifth armies, and there
was serious gap, and the situation
was retrieved owing to the magnificent
conduct Of our troops. They retired
IN perfectly good order, reestablishing
the junction between the two armies
and frustrating the cnemy's purpose.
The House can hardly realize, and
> certainly cannot sufficiently thank nor
can the country our troops for their
superb Valor and the grim tenacity
with which they faced overwhelming
hordes of the enemy and clung TO their
positions. They retired, but were never
routed, and once more the cool pluck
Of the British soldier, that refuses to
acknowledge defeat. saved Europe.
II am referring TO the whole army
generals, officers and soldiers | mean
the whole army. and | draw no dis
tinction. Their conduct has been one
of incredible courage and great cool
ness under the most trying conditions
do not think that any distinction can
be drawn between officers and men.
am referring to the British army, and
+ that means all.
And | specially refer to what one
brigadier general did. Some reference
has been made in the press already to
it, where at one point there was q
serious gap, which might have let the
enemy into Calais
Explains Coughs Recall
Until the whole circumstances
which led to the retirement of the
Fifth Army and its failure to hold the
line Of the Somme, at least till the Ger
mans brought out their guns, and per
haps the failure adequately to destroy
the bridges all these are OK
planned it would be unfair to censure
the general in command Of the array
General Cough. But until those cir
Cumstanccs are cleared up. it would be
equally unfair to the British army tc
retain his services in the field. 1t is
necessary to recall him until the facts
have been fully ascertained and laic
before the government by their mill
tary advisers.
after the retirement Of the 9th
Army the French reserves came up with
remarkable rapidity, when their posi-
ton before the battle is borne in mind
In fact, the speed with which. when the
final decision was taken as to the real
designs Of the enemy. the French re-
serves were brought up is one of the