New-York tribune., 1918-05-31

tions are generally stated to have been
from four or five to one in the Ger
mans favor since the beginning of the
battle
Confidence is expressed that General
Foch, the Allied commander in chief
will make the best of the difficult stu
alton, and it is urged that he should
be trusted implicitly. With regard to
the use Of the reserves, however, it is
remarked that General Foch may be
handicapped by ignorance as to where
the Germans will strike next.
Can Conceal Objective
In this connection "The Chronicle"
remarks that, owing to the geographic
cal advantages the Germans possess. it
is possible for them to conceal TO the
very last moment the direction of their
blows. General Foch must, therefore,
hold reserves to meet either of several
different contingencies. 1t may be an
ticipated, adds "The Chronicle" that
in his use of his reserves he will be
severely economical, and that a certain
amount of territory will be abandoned
which freer use Of the reserves woul1
save.
AS it is possible to give ground on
the Aisne front with less serious CON
sequences than on the front toward
Amiens," "The Chronicle" continues.
1T should not be surprising or unduly
dlscountenanced if that alternative
were followed"
A similar point is made by the critic
OF "The Daily News" who says that
1eneral foch must postpone as long as
possible any wholesale call on his re-
serves.
Fear Amiens Blow
..,,, 1T is by no means certainp saws
Inc DAILY News" "that the present
onenslve IS the only, even the most
menaclng, attack in Contemplation. We
hear Of heavy shelling around Amiens
ana S OF abnormal aircraft ACTIVITY in
rlanders. Immediate and important de-
velopments in both those sectors and
others are practical possibilities. ana
until 1T is known where the Germans
VIII strike the necessary counter meas
ures cannot be taken"
Inc Times" refers to the German
offensive as increasingly formidable.
ana after discussing the seriousness
oI tne menace 1T points to the fine
spirit in which the French are meeting
the enemys blows. They recall. saws
the newspaper, that they have lived
through Tar darker days, and, in the
end have invariably defeated the in
vaders. '-' '''-
The loss of Scissors was announced
at too late an hour to develop much
comment in the morning newspapers.
me loss in itself" says "The
Ilmes," us not of military Importance,
Dut the enemy is now on the high road
wh'@n passes through Villers- Cotterets,
about 45 miles from Paris"
Soissons Loss Important
On the other hand, in an article writ
ten before the abandonment of Sois-
sens was announced, "The Chronicle"
says:
"The loss of Soissons would have a
strategic consequence, as its transfer
ence to the Germans would increase
the advantage they enjoy over General
Foch in respect Of facilities for shift
ing the weight of their blow from one
side to the other"
The commentators point to the DOS
s'bility Of the loss Of Rheims also. as
the unofficial reports, at least, show
that 1T was half surrounded by Ger
mans, who are firing at its defenders
from three sides.
The further retention of the town !"
says "The Chronicle" "will be difficult.
and it may have to be abndoned."
fleid Marshal Haig's silence regard
ing the operations on the Aisne front,
which has been remarked in some quar-
ters as strange reticence, is explained
by The Daily Mail" as in line with
the precedent established by the
French command. As the French Staff
the newspaper points out, did not
record the events in the recent Flanders
fighting, where the French troops were
fewer than the British, so the British
now refrain similarly from touching on
the present operation in the Aisne area.
as the British troops are in the minor
ity on this front.
Allies Have the Power
Discussing the outlook as the result
OF tho German offensive on the Cham..