South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-05

IN the end IT brought Germans almost to the key
positions OF the Meuse fortress only when the hour
Of the territory purchased at so high price be-
the allies had taken the offensive AZ the Sonne
and they had to send their reserves to the danger
point.
MONTHS OF GERMAN GAINS.
Unless the allies choose 10 cnange their policy
ke the onenslVe we seem likely 10 face several months
IN which the German reports viii daily rec
ord German gains ana German captures There viii
be local retrements and there may retirement
This the story Of somme for the German pub
lie two years and OF Flanders last year But in both
instances when the Germans were on the defensive
they were able TO hold out despite considerable local
losses until their troops in Russia released AMI
they resained the offensive in the west
The allies have far chosen TO let the German do
the attacking. They contemplate wearing him out by
defensive tactics and only then seeking dec1siv
success The policy really contempIates waiting untn
1919 II has obvious dangers dangers revealed when
the Germans their great success on March aist
and 22nd, disclosed again in the very considerable suo-
cess at ArnentiereS on April 9Th and 10th. Neither the
advance at the Somme the Lys OF greaa
importance If it were not for geographical conditions
But these conditions give relatively small
advances unmistaloable values
MUST RECKON POSSIBILITIES
We bound, then. to reckon as possible a general
British retirement the evacuation Of all OF France
north Of the Somme and west OF the Disc We are
next two months 20 accomplish as considerable an aa-
ne did in the of his offensive tbs
allies Will either undertake counter offensive
OF their retire out Of the channel regions 90
cape the possibilities OF major disaster.
Such a retirement, II it vail hardly come az a
Is llyr
threatened or even broken. II is far likely
the British the Belgans evoted from the y-preS
User front will retire the -HazebrouckT3e-
thune-Arras line and make a stand there which may
hold up the Germans permanently or IL may result
merely in temporary check German asivancs But
If the check be temporary there is still another eand
to be looked for. and this stand viii be made JUS
where the high ground coming east to the channel
breaks down into the Flanders plain namely on front
before Calais and back Orner. thence via Be
thune to Arras. Once the British and Belgians have
drawn their front in thus, the great dis
will he in he main hollis T-,o-
the figure employed moment ago. be getting nearer
and nearer to the trunk OF the place in
the limb where the applied.
But in all this It is OBVIOUS that the Amiens ioint
must hold. Foch indicated his appreciation of this
fact when in his first utterance, after became COM
nahder-in-chle he guaranteed the safety OF the
This the this soldier reassure
the allied publics and he this way because in his
military mind, the value Of Aniens
Defending the lines just of Amiens Foch placed
French general, Fayolle, who commanded a group OF
French armies at the Somme two years ago and
knows the country. Under him he put, merely
French armies but the British army which replaced the
wreck of Coughs forces. This British force is
manded by Rawlinson. In this group too were placed
British and French troops.
Recognizing that Amiens the critical point IN the
line it is also essential to perceive advantages
would be unwise the mass OF the allied reserve
into the north. If the situation
CURED It. because OF poor communications and peril
OF isolation but the stationed and
west of Amiens without any peril and. sationed
there they the Paris Thus the defender
Amiens should difficulty in getting reserves
in unlimited quantities and without any delay.
I do not mean to be understood in this article az
forecasting British retirement OF the somrne
exceedingly unlikely. BUT it may become possi-
bic under certain circumstances. an trying TO in
dictate the extent which the effects will minor
rather than major provided the British Begians
set away in comparative safety. Get away they must
and will, if the German keeps his advances unless
in the meantime the opportunity comes for an allied
counter-ofensive elsewhere.
Copyright, 1880