Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-05
HUN DRIVE ENDED
WAR EXPERT SAYS
Great Rush at Standstill For Time
But There Will Be
Local Fighting.

The fighting Yesterday developed en-
tirely into series of violent attacks
for local objectlves. The great rush has
absolutely come to a halt. For the time
being at least the German advance is
over. In the fighting of yesterday the
advantages still resided with the Ger
mans although the ground gained was
relatively unimportant. The only ma
terlal progress was made northwest of
Chateau Thierry, where the Germans
pushed their lines further westward
and occupied the site of Neuillv lie Po-
terc Al that was accomplished, how
ever, was the elimination of local
salient north of Belleau which the
French had retaken the previous day.
This has not changed the situation IN
the slightest.
Further south along the Marine the
French afternoon report mentions an
attempt to cross the Marine. This is the
first time since the river was reached
that any effort has been made to effect
crossing. This. it might be said, is
an extremely difficult operation.
MARINE CROSSING DIFFICULT.
The Marine runs almost through gorge.
the banks being limited by high ground
rises very rapidly. with very steep
slopes Apparently the effort which was
made Yesterday was more in the nature
of a reconnaissance in force than
serious effort to cross the river. 4 foot
bridge was thrown across on which
small detachment of Germans reached
the southern side Immediately, how
ever. they were elected and thrown back
across the river the bridge being de-
stroved before they could all retreat.
about. q hundred men were left behind
and were forced 10 surrender
Il IS doubtful whether in this often
slvc we shall see a real struggle made
for crossing The Germans have moth
ing 10 gam hy SO doing az the present
time They are not after Paris imme-
dlately or any other objective in this
immediate vicinity This attempt will
come later.
EASIER METHODS OF GAINING
Moreover. there rae easier methods of
controlling this situation than by forcing
crossing over any such defensive Oh
stacle rs the Marine II would he easier
10 drive along the northern bank OF the
Marine until its junction with the Ourcq
is reached As they are already astride
the latter river. i would be more prof
liable. since less costly 10 press their
way forward slong the western bank of
the Ourc1 and thus flank the Marine de-
fence from the west However. ii Is not
At ali likely that even this will be at
tempted. since the real German object
in this offensive Is to be found nor h
west OF SoisSOns.
Here the Germans delivered their
principal effort Yesterday. If Germany
IS 10 get what she set out TO get In this
tight she has still a long way to go.
The line west OF Scissors IN the Aisne
Valley has given way somewhat al
though very little The Germans bv
virtue Of their succession OF small sue
CcsseS here have 10 some extent straight
encd out their line and removed the
salient which the French held immedl-
ately at scissors. But the general con- !
tour of the line remains the same. Ger |
MANY is still many miles from enlargng |
the Amiens salient. and until she does |
TINS little advantage will come with her |
recent efforts
HUNS WAY TO VICTORY.
Germany can win. Of course by 8
series OF deep drives into the Allies
positions But there is one very vital
condition even IN this These drives
must he so co-ordlnated that they may
alI be linked up n such a way as 10
form one composite whole. AS a series
81 individual enterprises they would pe
" hc calle.i advantageous.
As 10 n. present drive, we NAV as
same ti.at II WAS never started simply
10 reach the Hfarne The Marine has no
direct bearing on anything. 1t is simply
u geographical location which II crowd |
cd with associations. But the possession |
Of It's northern banks does not IN itself |
letter the German situation In the |
slightest.
HAD BIG OBJECTIVE II SIGHT.
The drive was undertaken. we NAV
be sure, with some much bigger OBJ
iect, either TO take Paris, or, as is
contended In these columns 10 create
elbow room in the Amiens salient in |
preparation for 9 greater and more ex-
tended effort. military movement Is
successful when II attains the object for
which IL was undertaken Judged from
this standard alone, the German drive
must at present be called q failure II
may gain its object in the subsequent
fighting. 1t has not done so vet, and
therefore has not been successful
In fact, the German position here is
not unlike that before Hazebrouck. in
Flanders, and before Amiens, in
PIcardy. In both of these cases the
battles came TO an end with the Ger
HALE IOltt-u 10 tfdSE lGIltlLR WAllE
they were in a position which in itself
gave the Allies tactical advantage
There was the same vital question in
each-the difficulty OF manoeuvrlng in
d marrow salient and at the same time
making fhe best use of their interior
lines and their consequent ability to
concentrate and use large bodies of
troops.
GERMANS MUST GO ON
Germany has, by virtue Of her adj
vance, increased her original front of
attack OF twenty-five miles TO one Of
sixty miles She has increased the mum
Der of divisions engaged from twenty
70 fifty Apparently, too, the number
is still being increased with the in
creased resistance of the constantly ar
irving French reserves, This number
cannot be diminished without giving the
French an opportunity TO break through.
Germany must 90 on, or construct an
other series Of permanent intrenchments
and try to hold on Neither alternative
appears 70 hold out prospects for great