New-York tribune., 1918-04-08
Weekly Review Declares
Foe Seeks Limited
Objectives Now
British and French
Tenacity Saved Day
Germans Hoped to Make
Big Breach; U. S. Avi-
ators Aid Haig's Men

WASHINGTON, April 7.-French
and British tenacity have upset the am
bilious plans Of the German high COM
mand for the Battle of Picardy, says
the War Departments weekly military
review tonight. And now the enemy,
determined to gain some sort of sue
cess at any cost, is throwing fresh
forces into the battle in an effort to
secure limited detectives. Because of
this the situation is expected to re-
main uncertain for some time to come
General Improvement in the strate-
gic position of the Allies is noted, and
the review declares that under Cen
eral Foch the Allied military machine
is working smoothly and efficiently in
stcmmng the German assault.
There is no mention whatever of the
American troops reported hurrying to
the front to join the British and
French, though the department again
mentions that several American trans
port sections have taken an active part
in the battle and that the American
aviation service is cooperating with
the British.
Far Short of Goal
AT the opening of the third week of
the German offensive we find that the
enemy is still far short of attaining
his principal objectives," says the re-
view.
at is now evident that the German
high command contemplated over
whelming the British at the outset be-
tween the Disc and the Sensec, and
driving a wedge into the Franco-Brit-
ish forces.
"The enemy fully expected to achieve
a decision in the field in the course Of
one great battle. The success Of this
plan depended on being able to obtain
a brcak-through of the British front
and advance so rapidly that neither the
French nor the British reserves could
come up in time to close up the breach
in the line and restore the order of
battle.
evidence of prisoners tends to con-
firm that the enemy hoped to gain the
line Of the Somme by the evening of
the first day of the offensive. AS
matter of fact, it took the Germans
ten days to cover the ground they ex-
pected to overrun within forty eight
hours. The stubbornncss of British
resistance and the severe casualties in
fictcd by them compelled the Germans
to draw more heavily than they had
anticipated on their own reserves.
Seeking Minor Objcctives
"The German high command is now
throwing fresh forces into battle in
an effort to secure some of it's more
limited detectives.
"Under the leadership of General
Foch the Allied military machine is
functioning with precise smoothness,
insuring greatest economy, harmony
and efficiency in the use of all of the
forces now united in stcmming the
German assault The morale of the
Allied troops remains high.
"The German offensive has rot spent
itself, and owing to the determination
displayed by the enemy to gain some
sort of q success at no matter what
cost the situation will continue un-
certain for some time to come. How
ever, the general strategic and tactical
position of the Allies is becoming more |
favorable.
Strike Against French
"After period of relative calm early
in the week, during which the enemy
was busy bringing up his heavy guns
and repairing the wastage of battle by
replacing tired units by fresh troops, |
another powerful attack was launched |
along the segment of the line now held |
by the FRENCH, stretching from the
Amiens- Roye road to Grivcsnes. The !!
enemy was able to make slight head
way. Fierce fighting continues. and
hostile units have penetrated westward
to within five miles of the main line
of the Paris-Amiens railway.
"Alled forces are masscd to check |
the invaders in this area. The French |
have extended their lines northward
which will enable the British to secure |
greater depth of concentration.
"There has been relatively less ac-
tivity north of *he Somme, though !
the Germans have made a number of
serious attempts to encircle Arras. All |
attacks in this sector have been beaten
off by the. British and the important
Arras defences hold firm in spite of
all the efforts made by the enemy to
weaken the British line in this region.
"Allied aircraft has been pnrticu-
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