The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-04-02
ASPECTS OF THE BATTLE.

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Ten days of incessant struggle have brought
armies to comparative standstill on the west
ern front. They are beginning to dig ina
sure evidence that much of their driving force
is gone. Other thrusts will be made, of course,
but it can now be said with absolute assurance
that the German emperor and general staff have
failed to accomplish the task they set out to &C.
complish--the SCATTERING of the British army
Having failed in that, they have failed in ALL
The ground they have gained is dust and ashes
in exchange for which they have paid terrible
price in German blood. Moreover, it is not
theirs after they have paid for it, because their
failure to destroy the British army means that
the forces of civilization will drive the Germans
out.
Although the British army has felt the greater
force OF the German attack, the enemy struck
with all her might also at the junction point of
the British and French armies. But here he was
badly mistaken regarding the situation, and his
mistake cost him dearly. Instead of thinly
held point of contact, subject to rupture by mis-
or enemy thrust, the junction was
doubly strengthened by overlapping French
forces posted deeply in front of British forces.
Thus this point was the strongest on the whole
front, and it soon made that fact plain to the
Germans, who were slaughtered by thousands
in their vain assault. The Germans have never
found the point of contact between the French
and British forces although they sacrificed at
least 100000 men in the search.
Gen. Foch is supposed to be the strategist who
foresaw the attempt of the Germans to divide
the French and British armies At any rate, the
double welding of the line at that point was
stratagem similar to Fochs maneuver at Ypres.
Doubtless there will be other surprises for the
Germans now that Foch is in supreme command
and able to put into instant effect his ingenious
and bold conceptions. He has demonstrated
that he is the master of any strategst on the en-
envy side, and the enemy knows it.. The strong
est possible assurance that the allied armies will
emerge victors in this battle and in the war lies
in the fact that they are now Unanswered &C
cording to the will Of a single brain of superior
cunning, training and initiative.
AS the Germans have gained nothing of value
in taking the ground between Cambria and their
present extreme advance, so the allied general
issimo may decide that nothing is to be gained
by merely driving them back He may conclude
that the allied armies should hold the enemy
where he is for the time being, pending the ac-
emulation of huge forces and supplies and the
evolution of plan for the capture or destruc-
ton of the entire German army on the western
front. Gen. Foch is capable of conceiving and
executing such colossal plan. The success of
such plan would mean that the allies would
not merely drive the Hun out of France and Bel
GUM, but would be able to dictate peace that
would insure to all nations both independence
and security.
The present battle is essentially defensive on
the part of the Germans They are frantically
trying to avoid the breakdown Of all their war
plans by disabling the British army Unless they
can accomplish this, they know they cannot beat
France, and hence they know that ground gain
ed in France must eventually be surrendered.
While the British army is intact the Germans
are on the defensive, no matter how savagely
they may attack. Conversely, the French and
British armies are actually on the offensive, even
while they are shifting and gaining ground al
little. Their forward thrust may be postponed
for days, or even months, subject to the judy
ment of the supreme war council.
The obvious duty of the United States is to
rush troops and supplies to France in never
ending and constantly increasing stream. No
bounds should be set upon the size of the United
Safes army or navy or merchant marine. They
should be expanded as fast as possible When
the United States forces in France are equal in
size and strength to those Of France and Eng
land, the defeat of Germany viii either have
been achieved or GERMANY seeing the inevi-
table. win have offered to hand over the sword
that has made 8 he'll Of the world.-WR ashington
Post.