New-York tribune., 1918-08-21

reached new crisis in the
Allied operations between Arras
and Rheims, and German retreat on
a rather wide front behind the line of
the upper Somme seems now a ques-
tion of hours. The comparison to-day
is with the situation in the first two
days of August in the Marne salient,
just before the Germans made their swift
retreat from the hills above the Ourcq
to the line of the Vesle.
What has apparently happened in the
past ten days since the Germans tempo
rarily brought the Anglo French thrust
to a halt before the old Somme front
line is this: Slowly but surely General
Debeny's First French Army, then Gen
eral Humbert's Third French Army and
finally General Mangin's Tenth French
Army have moved forward until they
have reached and in places passed those
positions on which the Germans stood
from October, 1914, to the time of the
Hindenburg retreat in March and April,
1917. One by one they have seized the
vantage points of observation, they have
occupied the crest of the high ground
about Lassigny, they have pushed up be-
tween the Disc and the Aisne, and in
very recent days taken the high ground
looking north over the Disc Valley from
Noyon to La Fere.
Had the purpose of the German been to
make permanent stay on his old Somme
front it was of utmost Importance to
him to retain these observation posts and
to hold the high ground about Lassigny,
just as it was equally important for him
in the Marne salient to hold the high
ground Immediately north of Fere-en-
Tardenois. But we are bound to con-
cude from his course that he adopted on
August II with respect to the Somme
situation the same policy which he
adopted with respect to the Marne situa-
tiop on July 10. In other words, he de-
cided to conduct rear guard and delay
ing operation as long as possible, to en-
able his commanders to get heavy
artillery and supplies out of the threat
cned sectors, but he envisaged an ulti-
The new line to which the Germans
now intend to retire is plainly indicated
on the map. From Noyon to Nesle they
have the Canal du Nord as an obstacle
to all Allied advance. North and east
Of Nesle they have the upper Somme as
far as Peronne. North of Peronne they
have the little Tortille River, which the
Canal du Nord follows as far as the Hin
denburg line. By retiring to this posi-
ton they will be able to place between
themselves and the enemy water and
marsh obstacle which will practically
neutralze the tank, the most effective
single detail in the new Allied method of
surprise attack. In the same fashion
they may retire between the Asne and
the Disc to their old line of June, follow
ing the high ground north of the Disc
from Noyon to the mouth of the Aiettc
River and thence eastward to the ia
mliar Chemin des Danes position
1t would seem that such retreat is
now inevitable. There is no profit for
the German in further resistance on the
line of Roye. There is an enormous i'm
mediate cost as a result of the Allied
progress, and there is an obvious event
ual peril due to the fact that he has be-
hind him the Somme River, and one of
the most elementary of military rules is
that it is unwisc to fight with an unford
able river at your rear.
The retreat of the German to the line
of the Somme now will be the ultimate
consequence of his defeat on August 8
and the succeeding days, just as a retire
ment from the Vesle to the Aisne will be
final consequence of his defeat of july
18 and 10 in the Marine salient. Alto
gether these retirements will represent
the surrender Of considerable territory.
but of territory which lost it's real value
as a result of the recent defeats. IF the
German could expect to take the often
slve on this front in any immediate fut-
ure he would necessarily fight to retain
what are naturally good jumping-off
places. He would have begun to fight to
preserve them long before the French
reached the summit of the Lassipnv
Ridge and also passed the crest of the
equally important ridge between the
Alsne and the Disc, where the latest fight
ing has taken place. On the contrary,
he has consistently conducted an opera
tlon looking to the delaying of the ad
vance of his foe rather than to pinning
down that advance Immediately.
The Sop1a tb;yo 10
north in the Flanders salient with less
apparent pressure. The Germans arc
retiring in Picardy and north of the
Alsne as consequence Of defeats in two
recent battles Thnu COON, "a Ia A4:.