The Washington herald., 1918-05-22
US. SOLDIERS
GET READY FOR
WORST ENEMY.
Von Mackensen, American
Halter, May Command
German Center.

Won Mackensen, the bitterest
American hater in Germany, is 10
command the center of the Amiens
drive because so many Americans
ere taking their places in that por-
tion of the line. This is a theory
that has gained many supporters in
both General staff quarters and in
reports coming from Gen. Pershincs )
officers overseas.
Washington yesterday heard that
Mackensen, and probably Won Fall
kenhayn. have been summoned from
the East to attend a great confer
Cnce of all German generals at
German great headquarters. 1t is
not expected that this conference
will produce any vast changes in
the general plan and tactics Of the
German attack. 1t is expected that
there Will be many changes in COM
mand.
To Fight Americans.
For manv reasons Mackensen
may be gwen tire conqmand of sew
Cral Amy corps in the center of
the wedge which the Germans are
about to send driving towards
Amiens.
=
American forces that If they face
Won Mackensen they will face an
implacable foe" one of the Ameri-
can officers said today. l know my
self, directly. that he has a SUI
prcne contempt ard hatred for
4 mericans. lie is an able rlan, and
has done big things for the Ger
man armies.
For time Mackensen got the
credit for beating Gen. Cadorna in
Italy. But that was not true Credit
has now been given where it be-
longs, to Gen. Won Buelow. But
Machensan did gain for Germany all
OF the victories in the East and
southeast that turned over to the
certral empires RUmania and the
Ukraine"
Meanwhile. every day that passes
increases the 6ifcuIty OF the
problem Mackensen and his mates
viii have to solve. Day by day the
British and the French are nib
bling off one strong point after an
other. so that the jumping off place
for the German drive will be hardt r
and harder to find. Day by day,
too. American troops and French
and English reserves are pouring
in behind the battle area to lessen
ever more the disparity of numbers
in favor of the Germans. Despite
the disappearance of SO many of
the German advantages. allied ard
Anne rican officers insist that Ger
many must go on with her often
sive. She cannot leave the line as
it now stands with two or three
dangerous salients against her.
Hun Leaders to Confer.
There is no question: said a high
American officer yesterday. but
that the Kaiser, Mackensen, Hinden-
burg, Ludendorff, and FaIkenhayn
will hold long and prayerful con-
ferences before the drive begins
Mackensen may replace Hinden-
burg. 1t is more likely he will be
given command of the center with
Falkenhayn near at hand. Hinden-
burg will probably remain the COM
mander-in-chief with Ludendorff
helping him to organize the battle.
The Kaiser. of course. will be near
at hand"
Despite all the German care it is
everywhere predicted that the drive
VIII De stopped. 30 conndent are
many well informed American Of
ficers that they are already ventur-
ing to predict the next step. It is
that following the failure of the
coming phase of the offensive the
Teutons will be compelled to re-
tire to their old posts on the Hin
denburg line there to await the
final issue of the battle when Amer
ica's full force has been brought
into play next year.