New-York tribune., 1918-07-25
New Surprise
Attack by Foe
NowForecast
Germans Maintain Furious
Bombardment Along
Front of SO Miles
By Arthur S. Draper
Special Cable to The Tribune)

'DpeCML CGOte TO The IrtbHre)
Copyright. 1918. by The Tribune Association)
LONDON, July 24.-Along the front
OF fifty miles the German guns main
t'talned furious -bomhardment Tuesday
afternoon and throughout the night.
From SCISSORS to Rheims the bonn
bardment was extremely heavy, and
just at sunset last evening the Ger
mans launched heavy attack against
the Franco-Brtish troops southwest OF
Rheims.
The tiercest of these onslaughts was
IN the region of Vrigny. but though
the enemy employed tanks in great
numbers, the Allied armies broke the
attacks and held their positions intact.
Within this salient the Grown Prince
has concentrated a great force, and ap-
parently Ludendorff has ordered him
to counter attack until he is sure there
is no possibility of regaining the terri
tory Foch took last week.
Fere- e-en-Tardenoi may be the scene
OF another ferce battle, as possession
of 1t would give Foch a big advantage
and force the Germans out of the river
pocket as well as relieve the pressure
on Rheims
Despite reports to the contrary.
Grown Prince Rupprecht holds a pow
ertul force in reserve, and another
German push is almost sure.
Another Offensive Forecast
Some divisions went to the rescue of
the imperial Crown Prince, but Rup-
precht's army has not been seriously
weakened
The seriousness of the German re-
verse, morally as we'll as militarily. die
tates another enemy offensive, and
Ludendortf has not suffered so severe
ly that he is not able to recuperate and
act quickly. Because he failed to take
Compiegne and was driven back from
the Marne, the enemy is not likely
to abandon his hopes of reaching Paris.
That is not German strategy.
Abel Ferry, former Under Secretary
of State for War, said in a recent
analysis of General Nivelle's failure
in April, 1917, that the mistake of the
French command for three years was
of surprise and that "the Germans
have realized in 1918 what the French
generals in 1915 and 1916 declared i'm
possible. From Nieuport to Belfort
the German front is organized into
sectors prepared for attack That is
the principal secret Of their recent sue
cesses."
If Ferry is correct-and the German
failure on the Marne serves to empha-
size the accuracy Of his analysis, be-
cause Ludendorff's s last attack lacked
all the elements of surprise e-then
the German command will strike in
sector where they believe the Allies
are least prepared.
Ludendorff Outmaneuvred
However, a new element now con-
fronts Ludendortf. Hitherto the Allies
have met his attacks with desperate
resistance, but General Gouraud, east
of Rheims, and General de Mitry, south
of the Marne, crossed him by retiring
on their second lines without making
real defence. The Crown Princes
troops plunged over two miles without
meeting any opposition and then thew
ran into an mpregnable defensive sys-
tenn undamaged by the German artil-
lery
Perhaps Ludendorff has system of
attack to meet these tactics, which
the French borrowed from the defend
ers OF Passchendaele Ridge last fall.
Perhaps he hasn't. At any rate, Luden-
dorff can hardly anticipate when Foch
intends to stand up and fight and when
he is going to retire to his second de-
fences