Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-20
ONE INCH TO THE MILE
By Simeon StrunSky

TN THESE nervous days we need more
/ war experts like williams. Williams said
he failed to understand why so many per-
sons should be downcast about the situation
on the west front,
"If we were only assured about the British
reserves and Foch's army of maneuVer,
ventured.
Reserves and maneuvcrs have nothing TO
do with IL" he said THE trouble is that
persons fail to read the official bulletins IN
connection with the nature of the terrain.
"YOu mean the lay of the land?' said.
We'll, perhaps you might call it that'
Williams said. but l prefer TO speak OF
terrain 1t conveys the iden more precisely
How many persons do you imagine take the
trouble of looking up on the map the terrain
around Bailleul, not to mention the topo-
graphical features and the contours" He
thought a moment and repeated contours
not without certain touch or PRIDE such
study of the map would show how utterly
inconceivable it Is that the Germans shouio
win"
"It's splendd to hear you say that" /
replied. really encouraged. But as matter
of fact I have been looking at the map
And what does it show? Look at that awtul
bulge from where the Germans started
week ago"
"I call it a rotten map" said Williams.
what right have they got to spread map
all over the page and make every measly
| advance by the Germans look like hundred
| miles? And besides. does II show anything
OF the terrain, or Of the topography, or the
| contours"
| had to admit that it did not.
| Exactly" he replied, Now let us look at
| this map OF mine, which does show you the
| terrain and the contours And he untolded
| an enormous chart which he must have bor-
| rowed from a friend on Haig's general staff.
| "But see here" | said, this map Is bigger
| than ever. 1t must be at least an inch to the
mile and see how the German salient would
| stick out"
| CT use this map only for the terrain" he
| said. "For the distances covered by the Ger
mans l consult Rand McNally's vest
| pocket atlas
"Oh" ! said
"Now, look at the lay of the land here
around Bailleul Pardon me, I mean the
terrain Here you have a chain of heights
| sweeping around from Messines Ridge west
ward through Bailleul TO Hazebrouck The
heights with a trifing exception. are held
| by the British. The Germans are down In
| the lowlands and are being pounded by the
| British artillery. You can see how easy IL
| was for the Germans in their first rush.
They had level country ahead of them. Also
they were dead anxious to get at Baileul'
| which Is an important railroad center. But
| now they have the high land to negotiate,
and it's a different story
"They have got Bailleul, however | said
dismally. ,,,,,,- ,.,-.
was discounted several days ago. Besides 1t
isn't railways that count nowadays, but
motor transport"
The reasoned confidence of the man sent
my spirits way up. Just one lingering doubt
asserted itself They have captured
Neuve Eglise and begun to climb the
heights" l. said.
'To be sure" he said But now look at
the terrain. Between the heights around
Ballleul and the heights around HaZebrouoli
| there is q big stretch of lowland. Those fiat
lands are soddeA with the recent heavy
spring rains. Can you imagine the Germans
bringing their heavy guns across that kind
| of terrain?"
1t seemed obvious that the enemy would
| experience difficulties in the matter. and
told him So Nevertheless, 1t appeared 20 me
that the German guns from the heights might
sweep the valley, and under ordinary circum-
stances defending a lower position against
artillery that overlooks It was a rather hard
task f~
even with men determined to fight for
every inch Of the ground, as Haig's troops
are doing?" he said qulzzically. Can you
look at this map of the topography OF the
country and seriously assert that a British
army will run before German army2"
((NITELL. now, rum" / said Who spok,
Wof running2 We know Tommy viii
always give a good account OF himself Blu
It's this steady bucking process which IN,
0ermans have been keeping up for the las
e1hat win soon come % : stop he said