The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-04-01
PHONE 262
THE GREAT ATTACK

In spite of the reckless sacrifices mad by the German commanders of their men the fighting of the first four days in the grea German attack has failed to break the Britisl defense system, although it has been bent ant dented in several places. Ot the outstand ing features of the movement, two are mos prominent: First, that the plans of the Brit ish leaders for meeting the expected attacl are still holding good, and, second, that th main British forces are apparently being hel' back for the purpose of launching tremen dous counter against the enemy at an op perfume moment.
 The preparation of special positions il the rear of the British lines as they stood a the inception of the German attack indicate that General Haig foresaw possible con centration of the enemy forces sufficient, strong to offer serious problem. If thes forces should be strong enough to breal through the British main line positions, i might cause disaster if no reserve position were in readiness With these reserve posi- tions prepared the British apparently have opposed the enemy with small part O their actual strength to impede his ad vance enough to give the main Britisl forces an opportunity to take up the speciall, prepared defenses and be in readiness to bat tie the enemy on ground of British selection In the delayed action, the advantage will li with the British, as the losses inflicted upol the great masses of Hun infantry will be SC verey felt. The energy expended by th enemy in thrusting through the original Brit ish defenses will have robbed the thrust of ; large part of its original force and momentum and not only will the drive be halted, but tn, chances for gigantic counter thrust by th' allies will be much brighter.
 It seems to be apparent that, although the fighting is as intense as upon the frs land second days of the attack, the thrust i slowing down and practically halted Th' few gains made on the fourth day are small and the German losses are mounting higher It may be possible that the British are strik ing back from their selected reserve positions Just where these positions are located ha not been made known at this hour
 What Germany expects to gain by thi attack is plain It is throw for victory and German military leaders have assured tie people that it cannot fail. They expec to secure peace upon terms favorable to Ger many. Falling short of a clean-cut vctory over the allies, they evidently hope to pro duce such an exhaustion that the allies wil become discouraged and abandon the idea O. holding on until a great American army cal be assembled, and consent to talk peace De cisive success means mastery of the European ointment and the establishment of Mittel Flu ropa. Material gains, but an indecisive strug gle, they hope, will bring terms which to thu German mind would be reasonably satisfac tory.
 It is impossible for them to gain a de cisive victory. The wastage of men whicl has already taken place in the short life O the offensive is sure to arouse a storm O protest at home as soon as it is known tha no definite victory is to be gained The peo |ple have been partly forced and partly per suaded into standing for this campaign. I is sure to be watched with suspicion, and it failure to produce rapid results will cause serious crisis in Germany much more gray than the one existing before the Russian peace was arranged.
 German newspapers say that this vii be the last battle of the war. This may wei be so. If the German leaders have stake, t.-eir all upon the thrust, the people may, an, indications are that they will, refuse to coun lSi'e'llIc thC SuuSSle .iOlSeI.
 In the operations so far there is nothin, to dishearten the allied people. The gloriou records being made by the British soldiers il the face of an enemy which outnumbers ther at least nine to one are matters to bring ex ultation to the heart of every allied subject No serious disaster has occurred, althoug some loss of territory has been incurred.
 REGISTER NOW
 The city registration books will clos next Saturday at P. M. If you are resi- dent of Fairbanks and have not registere