The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-09-26

vas the fact that, by these very ac-
lions, Marshal Foch virtually forced
the Germans to attack somewhere in
the Marine region, where preparations
were made for a new phase of the
struggle.
On July Is, the Germans made a
new drive, called by them "the Often
sive of peace" from Chateau Thierry
eastward far into the Champagne
sector. No sooner had the news of
the attack reached the world than the
tidings came that the French, Italian
and American lines subjected to as
sault were standing firmly in every
vital part of the front and that 1t was
only by the greatest effort that the
Germans pounded their way ahead in
the region southwest of Rheims and
astride the Marine west of Epernay.
1t was then known that the Allies had
solved the German system OF often
sive and were able to hold their
| ground.
FOch Launches Drive
On July IS, Marshal Foch launched
an attack which has changed the
whole complexion of the situation.
| From FoRtcnoy on the Aisne west nf
scissors, to Chateau Theirry on the
Marine, the German lines we're toSn to
pieces and the Marine salient threat
ened to collapse. 1t was only by the
most savage fighting that the Germans
succeeded in saving their army from
disaster and finally succeeded in re-
treating across the Vesle river.
On Aug. s, the French and British
stormed the German lines in Picardy
from the Ancre river to Moreuil north
of Montdidier and sent the enemy
| Keeling back toward the Somme. The
next day the French crushed in the
German front south of Montdidier and
then linking their lines with those of
the British further north, forced the
invaders back to the eastward.
German Line Gives Away
Less than two weeks later the Ger
| a lines southeast of ATraS we're
| attacked and these gave away and the
| forces holding them joined their com
| rades further south in a retreat which
| has now virtually reached the Ger
man lines as they were on March Fl,
from Arras to the Chemin des Danes,
| southwest Of scissors.
While this retreat was going on, the
| Germans began a withdrawal from the
Flanders salient and today they are
nearly back TO the lines from which
| they sailed to their attack late in
April.
Thus far the Allied drive might
| have been considered in the light of de
| fensive operations but the work has
not paused with the mere repuise of
| the enemy His positions along the
Hindenburg line east of Arras AVE
| been wrested from him, while further
| south, neal st. Quentin, the British
have in recent days, fought'their way
| into the enemy's lines where he had
| planned to stand on the defensive.
The first American field army has
| obliterated the st. Mihiel salient and
| Strengthened the line east OF yerdun
| and now stand before Metz into which
| American shells are falling.
Before the Allies there now stands
| the great lines constructed by the
| Germans during four years of war
fare. These are not sample trenches,
but vast field Notifications which
! stretch from North Sea, with few in
| terruptions to the Swiss frontier.
Face Formidable Barrier
This general lire of defensive posi-
| tions has become known as the Hin
denburg line, but the different sec
| tons of it have been given names
from the old German epic Of the Me
belungenlied.
Thus the Wotan, Siegfried, Brunhild
and Krimhild lines have been mem
| toned in reports from the front.
They are carefully constructed with
all the science at the command of the
German general staff, and present a
formidable barrier to further Allied
attacks.
Sly months of the warfare of mo-
ton, however, has taught the Allies
that a trench is no stronger than the
troops that man it. In this fact lies
the hope Of the Entente's nations.
New methods Of attacks, the employ
ment OF tanks and a higher morale
than wei before in the history Of the
war will be relied upon in the fighting
to break the enemy's defensive lines
ana force new retreats.
German Chance Lest