The Washington times., 1918-03-17
ength of the Opposing Forces Is Highly Important War Task

this is that a determined attack was
made upon the trenches held by the
Americans in what is called the sec
tor of Toul'-a bit OF ground / know
very well. because ] served there
twenty-seven years ago as a driver In
the field artillery OF that day. This
attack, from the information at hand,
was apparently conducted, as are most
of the recent operations by both Ger
man and allied troops upon the West
ern front, with the object Of obtaining
information. The French call such
operations taking soundings"
The development OF vigorous Ger
man trench raids against the Amer
lean forces holding first line positions
not only here in the neighborhood OF
Toul, but also along the Aisne, and
in whatever other sectors are held
by your troops. Incidentally these
raids also give an opportunity for
testing on a larger scale than hither-
to the comparative fighting value OF
the two kinds OF infantry engaged
in the encounters.
Show Superiority.
The brief dispatch describing this
encounter near Toul gives Indications
strongly in favor. of the new Amer
ican contingents which have just
come onto the field as being superior
to the veteran German troops with
whom they were engaged.
We further heard this week-on
some day unnamed, but earlier than
the first dRys-of what was really
the FIRST attack on American troops
- IL
emily on a very large scale. The
Germans, as all soldiers do, but more
than any others. depend upon exact
calculations. Now the American
army is a big and growing and un-
known factor In these German call
culations, and you should be pre-
pared to find that fully half of the
German effort on the Western front
In the immediate future will be con-
cerned with finding out all It can
about this factor-its numbers, its
disposition its fighting quality. its
supplies Of material and munitions
and stage OF its training.
Activity VIII Continue.
Whether the Germans intend a big
spring offensive on the western front
or not no one but themselves can pos
sibly tell yet. The strictly military
considerations OF the situation are
against such an. offensive; the politi.
cal reasons are strongly in its favor.
But whether the Germans do or do
not make such an attack they will
certainly continue to give all the pre-
liminary signs of one for such opera
tions are necessary as. a prelude II
they do mean to attack and are use
ful as a blum IL they do not. There
II no sign made public yet of any
special point OF concentration for Ger
man troops which must be made be
fore an attack is launched.
Meanwhile in the East we must
clearly grasp two things. First, that
the Austro-Germans can do what they
like; second. that the forces that they
require there are quite small The
international sang that has captured
Petrogrsd has destroyed the Russian
an army. When the invaders stop in
their police work (for it is only police
work that they are doing) will be
entirely their own affair, and the stop
Will come OF their own free will.
When they do stop. We shall hear
plenty of nonsense from whatever
crowd may happen to be on top In
northern Russia. We shall be told
that there has been "a counter often
sive" or that the Germans. have been
checked We need pay no attention
whatever to this talk when Il does
come. The small but disciplined
forces. which, as ] write, are already
in possession OF kieff. the capital Of
southern Russia, and of Pskofc and
Sieusk Ia the north and center, can
go where they choose and do what
they like. They will only be halted
by their own deliberate policy-until|
(or h)-the great battle in the West
Is decided.
During this Iull in the fighting on
the western front and because of the
inability which I am under to deal
with news which may arise later in
the week las / shall still be travel
ing), should Ike TO close this article
with some words on the rules affect
ing civilians in this war. Unfortunate
ly, a long experience OF war condi-
tions have at last brought them home
to ME, though even here in Europe
they are not yet nearly enough ap.
preciated.
There have appeared In the course
OF the campaign four great rules
which not every civilian writer upon
the war, but also every talker upon IL
should have stuck up in large letters
upon the walls Of his rooms, and as
you Americans say. pasted in his |
hat" These four rules are:
Rules for Civilians.
!. To appreciate the necessity for |
secrecy. all the time. and on all mill
tary operations nad plans.
.. Not to -urnble at tne small num- |
Der OF effective soldiers At th' front, |
but to appreciate the very large pro-
portion OF man power in uniform |
which cannot take part in the active
operations.
). To avoid amateur strategy as a
plague, % appreciate the impossible
ty Cf any man not on the spot and |