Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-27

NEW YORK, Aug, 24.-Ludendorff is
now in permanent retreat. He is fight
ing series OF gigantic rear guard &C
tions which will continue 2t intervals
until the German front is so shortened
as at least to follow the line of the
Belgian border eastward to the River
Mouse.
The retirement from western France
has been forced upon the Germans by
the enormous strength of the American
armies in Europe. Ludendorff, in fact
is now starting to prepare whatever de-
spairing answer he may have to General
Marchs recent declaration that 1000, 900
American troops can win the war next
year.
Marshal Foch's present strategic pur-
pose is to prevent the Germans from
retiring unmolested, as they did seven
teen months ago, to the original linden
burg line. The Germans must go back,
but they dare not make a sudden retro
grade movement as rapidly as last year,
for fea rthat an opening will be made in
their lines and they will be cut to
pieces. Hence the present operation has
taken the form of a slow shuttle where
in the Germans are losing large num-
GERS of prisoners and guns, but are pre-
serving their front intact
Germans Sacrificed in Vain
The momentous fact is now apparent
that the kaiser is hesitantly admitting
all the enormous German casualties
during this years spring offensive, have
been in vain. The German army is turn
ing its back on Frace and is starting TO
go nome. Ludendorff's gamble with
death has failed. This is the real mean
IF ha
from Scissors to Arras. They are local
engagements only in the sense that they
do not constitute major offensive. They
do, however, represent major retreat
on the part of the Germans.
The reserve army of the Rhine must
now begin to be created by Ludendorff.
1t must consist of at least a million
men if the German general stan has any
hope of protecting German territory
even to the east of the Rhine next year.
Germany has no reservoir at home
from which a million new men fighters
can be drawn. Possibly 100000 first
line troops may be secured from the
youths reaching military age between
now and 1919. This leaves coo, 1000,
which can only be found among the
German forces now in France and Bel
GUM. Before so serious a depletion
of man-power can occur, the German
west front must be shortened to a far
greater extent than a retreat to the
Hindenburg line will allow.
May Stop at Belgium Boundry
For the present, it is probable, Luden-
dorff has his attention fixed on the Bel
gian boundary as his ultimate goal of
retirement. The kaiser will do his ut
most to retain possession of Belgium
for the purpose of negotiations at the
peace conference. The Belgian bound
airy, however, is too long to be held by
the Germans permanently, if a major
effort is to be made to protect German
territory from the Americans. Eventual
ly, the shortening process must carry
the Germans back to eastern Belgium.
But the kaiser will be reluctant to make
SO disastrous a sacrifice and before he
accepts the inevitable the Americans may
have reached the Rhine. Nevertheless,
the eventual extreme of Lundendorff S
retreat now begun in France will GER
tainly not fall short of Liege, unless, in
the meantime, Germany surrenders.