Evening journal., 1918-05-27

fBy Newspaper Enterprise Association
LONDON, May q The great battle II
Pioardy and Flanders Is 40 ~
renewed.
II VIII be the greatest battle in th'
worlds history. The fate OF CIVILIZATION
depends upon H.
Field Marshal Won Hinderburs mas
been feverishly reforming his division:
and preparing 10 renew the offensive
II Is now indicated that the flrst blow
& win be launched this week-.two months
after the beginning Of the lrst stage
Of the battle
Moon Now Favorable TO Plans.
The moon IS now in about the same
stage as at the beginning Of the March
drive. As the Germans do most OF tneir
lehting at night Hinderburg isn't over
looking any little details like that.
According TO the estimates Of the
French general stsff. the Germans have
massed 100000 men along the front
FOR the new drive.
The Allies are not in the habit OF
announcing the number Of men In their
armies. but Il is an open secret that
they. too. have been reinforcing their
lines in preparation FOR the terrific bat-
{ tie
The greater part Of their reinforce
ments are made up Of American sol
dIers. who have been pouring to the
front IN a steady stream for two months.
Among them are many national army
men. The battle will be the first test
for the American troops They will
take as important a part In II as the
French and the British
There have been some indications that
the German general staff Is preparing
for q triple drive along these lines:
IA great offensive against the
French and British on the west front,
calculated 10 capture Ypres, Amiens and
Arrss and drive the British to the sea.
2 A naval offensive against the Brit
ish feet in the North Sea.
2. A terrific drive by the Austrians
against the Italians to capture Venice.
Since the war began IL has been iypi-
cal Of German strategy TO spring sur
price on the foe at the opening OF every
offensive movement. The 42-centimeter
sicge-gun, the use Of liquid fire and
poison gas. the Zeppelin bombardments,
and the most recent. the 75-mile gun
that shelled Paris when the spring drive
began, are instances.
What will the surprise be this time
Some critics believe II will come in
the form OF a descent upon the Eng
lish coast Of q German fleet greater
than ever before assembled But the
British end American fleets are ready
eager, IN fact, for such a movement.
This would be merely diversion, and
secondary to the great business which
LIS before the German general staff
ramely, the effort 10 destory the Allied
trmies and force a German-made peace
on the world.
Hindenburg has been quoted as sayine
that he will sacrifice a million men to
bring victory In the new drive It's frst
stage cost him 100000, so II is safe 10
assume that he will not stop this time
until 100000 more have been hurled into
the inferno.
This forms the best possible criterion
Of what the battle will be like. Huge
masses Of German soldiers will be
thrown, wave after wave, against the
Allied lines, 10 be left msngled and
dead on the field. The lighting will sur
pass in horror anything that the world
has vet Witnessed.
Employing such tactics In an offens-
i've. we must be prepared to hear that
the enemy has gained some ground al
flrst.
Foch Must Hold Armies In Tact.
But the German objective is not the
capture OF more French or Belgian ter
ritory. despite all the talk about the