New-York tribune., 1918-06-11

prise the German offensive machine
made less progress in two days than
it did in one on the Aisne. With
the French waiting and prepared for
the attack the Germans paid a
bigger price in human life in two
days than they did in four when
their wedge pierced the thin Allied
line further east.
There is every reason for en-
ccuragement and confidence in the
latest development, and unless the
enemy increases materially his rate
Of advance it is unlikely that he
will persist long in his efforts in the
present quarter. After two days of
the bitterest fighting the Germans
who are following exactly the same
tactics as used on the Somme, Lys
and Aisne, namely, centre attack
and widening of it's sides, has reached
a maximum penetration of five
miles, only half the depth reached
on the Aisne the first day. On the
left the French were forced back
less than two miles.
If the Germans should succeed in
driving in the centre along the Roye
Senlis road the French would hold a
nasty salient tip south of Noyon.
Evacuation of this salient would un-
cover Compeigne and pen up the
whole Noyon-Chateau Thierry front.
But to date General Ludendorff
has encountered much tougher re-
sistance than he met hitherto. The
strength of the French is we'll illus
trated by General Foch's report of
the capture of 500 prisoners in a
counter attack on the German left
wing
Reports place the attacking force
at twelve divisions, or one-third of
the troops employed in the Grown
PPrince's initial drive In some
quarters this is not considered a
major operation, but others believe
it follows exactly the same lines of
Ludendorff's drive at Armentleres,
comparatively small forces being en-
gagged in the initial stages, with
fresh divisions being thrown in as
the battle develops. This is no stra-
tegic stroke of Ludendorff's, but
merely a conventional attack in q
quarter where it is naturally ex-
pected. 1t remains to be seen
whether General Ludendorff con-
siders the territory worth heavier
investment, or whether he intends
to resort to hammer and tongs tao
tics used at Verdun and Ypres.
Two main objectives are apparent.
The first, in the capture or destruc-
ton of Compiegne, highly impor-
tant railway centre. The second, is
the widening of the front along
which the Crown Prince intends to
drive toward Paris. Since the
eighth day of the first phase of the
battle, the French resistance along
the Noyon-Chateau Thierry front
has been so stubborn that Luden-
dorff has made no real attempt to
break it, He probably reasons that
as long as the French hold Cotter-
cts any movement IN the direction
of Paris is out of the question. The
scene of the present attack is in a
country offering many strong nat
ural defensive positions, except
west of the Matz River, where the
ground is rather fiat.
Meanwhile, Paris remains firm,
although it is living under nerve
racking conditions. Almost night
ly air attacks and daily lombard
ment by long-range guns are enough
to cause decentralization even though
the stream of refugees wasn't pass
ing through the city constantly, but
Parisians continue to regard the
future with calm confidence, which
wins the admiration and praise of
the British.