South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-27

this battle are yet only partially realized
or the German retirement is still disclosed, but
the magnitude Of the triumph patent and
promptly followed by a German proposal an
tice which confesses the loss OF the war although
does not yet foreshadOw unconditional surrender.
We have then, review the few enduring
military triumphs OF human history a battle whose
consequence already that other Bat
To Of the Nations the contest Lepslc which settled
the fate OF the NaDoeonic empire Germanys OF
world power was certainly terminated in northern
France as was that Of the great French emperor
than century Saxony.
This battle, for which. perhaps, the name Of the
Hndenburg line the geographical objective which
attained and passed supplies the title. extended
over front twice as extensive that Of the first
Marine hitherto the greatest in history was fought
by not less than 100000 men; Il Immediately
followed BY the evacuation of than 1000
miles or French and Belgian territory and retreat
unmistakable and perhaps to prove extended
that OF Napoleon after Leipsic.
In this battle, in the larger sense there was no
geographical objective The immediate
Foch the Hndenburg line, which had TO be
broken but the ultimate objective behind the line
the German army which not yet routed when
these lines written but has beaten unmis-
takably and beaten in such fashion that the fact OF
allied triumph is longer denied Berlin NapOeOn's
problem after Leipsic is Germanys problem now after
the battle Of the Hindenburg line; it is the problem
overturn OF the dynasty failed solve
problem and driven to abdcation and exile; the
task before William II is not lighter.
BATTLE OF HINDENBURG
LINE BEGAN SEPT 26.
The battle the Hindenburg line opened on Sept
20 on that date the Germans between the and
the Meuse substantially the ground which
they had occupied beginning their
on March II only west and north of Lille and south
OF Laon did they hold any valuable which had
not been in their hands in the spring while only
OF Cambria had they lost any important positions.
likewise in their hands in March.
on all this front of nearly two hundred miles the
Germans stood behind a system of defence which had
been elaborated over and in places four
They possessed all the points of vantage and
from Arras 10 scissors thev had before them that
desert created by the Hindenburg retreat OF
1917 which challenged the efforts allied en-
gneers 10 construct lines OF communicated for their
adv ancfm qrrT1iaE hind fha
devastated country with lines OF communication de-
veoped during four years OF occupation.
Between March Il and Sept. 20 the Germans had
tried and failed win the by a colossal
sive Their failure had them many prisoners and
many guns. but they had yet lost prisoners
guns than they had taken in the successful
phase Of their offensive. 1t may be doubted if
their losses much greater than those OF
their foe although their practice Of selecting the best
elements in their armies and grouping them in
units had exposed them much heavier losses their
best material
All things considered, the Germans stood in much
the position in which they years
beaten OF allied offensive. notably at the Somme IN
the Aisne Flanders 1917. Their
problem was to make the allied advance slow and
so costly achieve material results
weather ended the campaign gave their
diplomacy the opportunity. using the military dead
lock as the basis for argument to seek negotiated
peace based upon the idea that military decision
was possible In this the
numbered and out-gunned but not in any overwhelm-
ing degree. They had just good a chance win
defensive victory. far surface conditions
concerned they had in the three previous years.
GREAT MAGNITUDE.
The OF Foch equally simple but Of
examPied magnitude. He had in the few remaining
weeks Of the campaigning season, TO break the Ger
man line to the German armies back over the
whole front nfict upon them such defeat as
would abolish all question OF the impOssibity OF mill
tary decision and demonstrate that the could be
by and that therefore there left the
Germans only the choice between immediate surrender
the persistence in which could have but
end and would before that end came bring the
vason o Germany itself
Given magnitude OF the mum bers involved and
the extent OF the front there small chance that
could achieve sedan. a Waterloo.
there should be a sudden collapse Of German
such a. forecast by
OF the actual battle itself What he had to do
inhict decisive defeat. which would and
for AL put end 70 the idea that a of positions
n other termination than a deadlock
fashioned. decisive military triumph could
in contemporary warfare.
In sum. had exactly the allied
manders fighting Napoleon had 20 dO-he had to de-
feat his antagonist in such fashion 10 demonstrate
that irrevocaole defeat the great
neither impossible nor improbable lie had 10 break the
defensive. the allies OF 1913 the
Napoeonic legend. This all OF IT, he did accomplish
between Sept. and Is. In that time the whole
opinion OF the civilized world, Teutonic and
-eutonic. brought TO the common point of
IGNITION that Germany had lost the irrevocably,
and all that could in the future would be the
exploitation of the battle OF the Hndenburs
line.
In solving his grandiose tactical problem Foch open
ed battle the TANKS reserving his main thrust
for and for the appropriate moment Thus.
OF sept 20 Liegetrs first American army. in
conjunction with Gourauds fourth French army which
delivered the blow or the German left while King
AIbert's Belgian army and Pulmers second British
army delivered the blow the German right.
RESULTS N SWIFT
AMERICAN ADVANCE.
The Franco-American blow resulted I'm a swift adj
vance los the Americans north of Nerdun. the capture