Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-12
!. FIRST STAGE OF BATTLE
Disastrous TO GERMANY
British Government Too Cowardly TO
- Fight Effectively il II Fails to
CunScript Irish.
aAl1EEs WILL NOT BE TAKEN
Loss OF Hion,didier by Preach In
G fortunate, but Not Distressing, in
~ Opinion of Loyat Fraser Our
Il! Armies Are Intact.
tInternattonal Ncws nnrcau.l

international News Bureau
81 1t is a Yer! unsafe ;hinE to write
about the probable future course of an
immense battle while tho issue stll
shan gs trembling III the. balance; but l
VIII take the risk.
q Although hlacher news may yet ar
express my personal belief that in this
first stage OF the battle the Germans
have nearly shot their bolt. that they
will not reach Amisns. and that the
living allied line VIII remain unhreak-
able.
But let there he no hosannas yet. and
no ringing OF bells, VIC should ring
the bells when We have beaten Ger
many and have enforced peace which
will save the world from cns!avement.
and not before. We have prerna,urcly
claimed for too many llusory vic
tories" In this war in the west. This
mighty battle is not yc; over. Mt.
Lloyd George was perfectly right when
he said in his message 10 the United
States tina: 1t Is only just beginning"
think the Germans viii not make
much moro progress ~ the first phase
because their Losses have been very
heavy, beca use their advance has been
slower than they expected. because they
have had 70 use W their reserves very
rapidly. and because they are just at
the point when any offensive. however
great loses momentum and begins TO
ehb a little.
Their main immediate objective is
Ariens, as ventured 20 point OF.
when the situation was still obscure.
At the moment @: writing they are still
nearly eleven miles from .tm:sns. and.
though thai have beea niassirE for
fresh attack ara!as; our center
douht whether thcy viii 4: through or
Will reach sr:as on our lef; nank.
There are very good defensive positions
setveen our Present line and Anjeas.
We com ura..d the approaches % .irras
The French loss o. The important
railway junction q Noutdidi:r Is IN
fortunate. but roc necessarily distress
ting Our allies hold rhe western
heish,s close g ire town. and the
main line "a Paris passes nine miles
furlhe- v.s:. Make 10 mistake about
oC- gallant French comrades. They
have foues; snle7diily 20 retrieve 4
very had reverse aad ;hey are being
SIMILARLY handled
II the valo7 ana .or:ituia * our own
t-oooa too much cannot re said A.
ready have heard stories - tho
glorious ssifsacridre Of some - our
Geld batteries, which Are6 into the al
vaaciag Gs-n,sas Until INC Very last
moment; = bands of sapp"-S who gave
their lives - biloxi VI bridges; OF noble
doctors r-ho stuck 20 tne advanced s,a-
Nohs ana - '.'0 nc names q INC zee
ne s1nio''S 81 our airTeH nave cN-
se.lto a. H''N or hs't"!s !. ar "ff-
tzts 3HS' ~ 'ht oof' .itnhs u!t ""'-
ct'Es ms = ~ 't sn4' req i4.'r o.
1''i.'I',. :: .'e 'h'ih.r 81
80 ''. 90" I'-S '''te'' ~.
'si''"-s t."t -
80" u''"H nav" COM
49, iTnru - ~ ~! o"' "!Hn!es'
ouE ~ - 'h''''-'r'
GERMAN DEFEAT SHOULD
-'''H'. ~ '-'- c'<'N L
Sfonio tNe Germans ran 10 accom-
pltsh their fun purpO.c tais should ne
the decisiv. BATH. Of the I,ar J;
: should DC decisive because ,hc., have