Evening star., 1918-06-02
Aided in Surprise Attack.

In concealipg their preparations 50
as to make q surprise attack, Gen.
Bridges said the Germans were aided
probably by four factors: Their pre-
ponderating number Of divisions; q
good railway system: the proximity of
woods to- their nrst, objectives where
.aafs sas..Is RIsnssss "a s rag Ssld
frort long n9G bsSA orsanissd AoF
The allies saust now be prepared
eithSf q. ses the offensive. rsSumS4 II
the north soons continued Cen.
Bridges: or else to see German divisions
from tbs north sent down to exploit
the new success. The battle, he said,
Is likely to continue for weeks and
will become long-drawn-out struggle
Of man power. with the first duty Of
the allies to husband their resources
by giving ground for men where
possible. ~ u
In making his statement. Gen.
Bridges was emphatic in saying that
he could make no reliable apprecia-
ton Of the situation until news was
whether Identification, had been OBJ
tanned Of any divisions being with
drawn from other sectors OF the
front to take part in the drive.
1T. The present attack .t,ssl,. appears @ to have have
Bridges. ono OF the reasons foF
this was. no doubt. that 1t was not
considered by the allies as de-
cisive direction for a major opera
ton because Of the possibility on
this sector Of giving an amount Of
Amiens or Ypres.
Concealed Preparations.
The Germans have also concealed
their preparations extremely well.
aided probably by four factors, (1l
their preponderating number Of d.
visiaas, (2) the. fact that. they are
working with q good railway system
on interior lines: g? that that there are
to their hrst objectivea. where large
numbers Of troops could be brought
up by night and concealed, and a.
that this front has long been or
ganized for attack.
As the Germans commenced the
attack with only sixteen divisions 1t
would appear that it has been more
successful than they anticipated. 1t
is probable that 1t was at hrst in
tended either in tho nature Of q sec
allied reserves from the we'll pro-
tected Amiens salient or to strike q
heavy blow for the Marne-in order
to cut tho main communications be-
tween Paris and Chalons and to widen
the too narrow Amiens salient by .
fresh operation.
Expected Halt at Marne.
THE German higher command prob
presence Of largo forces in front Of
such vital points as .Ypres and
Amiens had pinned the bulk Of tie
allied reserves to these positions.
While they are at present in q mar
row and dangerous salient. the Ger
mans. should they be successful In
pushing out the west leg Of 1t and
joining 1t up to the Amiens salient.
which appears to be their intention,
will be in favorable position for an
advance on Paris. The allied COM
50 far the tanks Of the salient seem
to have held we'll and reserves are
Joining tas. E, up; .-A. As far as penstration
to call . halt at the Msrne.
to see the offensive resumed in the
north at no distant date or else to aae
German divisions from the north sent
down to exploit the new success. I'M
til tho movements Of reserves have
been established 1t il idle to forecast,
The battle Is likely to continue for
weeks and will become a long drawn
out struggle of man power. The
allies first duty will be to economize
their reserves and husband their re-
sources. TO give ground for men whore
possible. for the ANAL decision will "a
with the last reserves.
20 Divisions Estimated In FYrhe.
1T is doubtful II moro than half
Of the eighty divisions which ws es-
innate the enemy had in general re-
hADeAt vat hAAn hAA A..
present battle. This means that hnif
the effort IL spent. It 10 to Be hoped
that divisions engaged have been duly
punished. a. they certainly have been
around Rheims and Soissons.
We hear much from London that
the three British divisions the sthss
18th and 60th. which held the line
northwest of Rheims put up q mag
nincsnt fight and even counter
attacked against vastly superior
forces, maintaining all their positions
on the. hrst day until darkness fell,
when they we're c0iigsd to threw, !,