Evening star., 1918-04-15

" havS to order a wide, swinging re-
treat on 'the north whicn will surren-
the corner OF Belgium which stilI re-
main to King Albert.
In sum. then. the Germans are now
threatening to accomplish with respect
to the Belgian and hrst British armies
what they almost accomplished with
armies along the Somme A deep and
dangerous wedge has been driven in
the British second army-the army
which Is the link binding the British
British and Belgian troops in Flanders
Unless the German thrust is parried
before Haxebrouck, as it was checked
before Amiens. Haig must consent to
the greatest retreat that the allies have
made on the western front since tho
days before the Marine, and the Ger
mans will draw close to both Calais
and Dunkirk
IN exactly the same way the wedge
which the Germans are driving In north
9L,. Of Arras is making the position Of the
South Of Arras the Germans have
driven q deep wedge almost to Amiens;
north OF Arras they are now. driving
second wedge, and Arras is becoming
moro and moro pronounced salient II
this process should be continued for
any length Of time the British might
have to retire far west of Arras and
abandon all the positions for which
they have paid SO much in blood and
half.
On the other hand, it is essential to
recognize that all the values in the pres
ent campaign are different from those of
every campaign since the Marne. Now, as
then. the German is seeking a decision,
not a gain Of ground. The British are
In the position Of the French before the
Marne. Then Joffre having suffered early
retreats and facing an overwhelming con-
centration OF German troops on his west
could re-arrange his armies and until the
force Of the German blow had spent itself
and the moment arrived for a counter
offensive. When that moment arrived he
struck and won the Marne, but before 1t
arrived he had Temporarily abandoned all
Of northern France to the invader.
Foch and Haig are necessarily en-
ploying the same strategy. Under the
terrific force Of the German blows, they
are yielding. Their supreme purpose is
to keep their front and their armies in
tact and their reserves unexhausted until
the hour arrives for the counter offensive.
In this time they run the obvious danger
Of disaster, just as Joffre did. At Amiens
a terrible possibility. Now they are con-
fronting peril no less grave. Amiens was
saved by the arrival of French reserves
Today other French reserves are rush
ing up 10 f1azeDrouck, ana upon their
celerity and upon the obstinacy Of the
British\ armies depends the fate of the
Ypres salient.
It would be idle at this time to at
tempt to minimize the gravity of the
situation, but 1t is well to recall that the
crises of the Marne, and, more recently
Of Amiens were met and passed success
fully by the allies. The situation TODAY
fE not more serious than that which
Joffre passed in the first days of Septem-
Der. 1914. The solution Of that crisis
was the victory Of the Marine. The very
and fury of the Germans at
tack now indicates that 1t cannot 20 on
long at the present pace. He has used
lis divisions on the western front. He
never had over 100. and at least sixty
Switzerland to the sea- Seventy-nve
divisions have been withdrawn because
of losses, and 1t is certain that the re-
reserve of fresh troops cannot be
over ten divisions: while the allies on
their side have not yet made any great
power to strike back must still lie with
Foch.
Conceivably we shall see third Ger
man blow. Possibly q complete check
before Bailleul and Haebrock will
offensive. on the other hand. the faii S1 Of
Bailleul and Hazebrouck must have
which are not to be mis- ,
taken. the least of which would be the
evacuation of the ~Ypres front and the
greatest Of which might be a general re-
tirement Of the whole British line north
Of Amiens toward the channel. The fate
Of the present British front at least de-
pends on the rapidity with which the |
thrust toward Hazebrouck and Bailleul |
is checked. and until that thrust is |
checked 1t IL necessary to face the facts
- thAy are-es tho British are doinG.
with complete frankness in their cfacaal |