Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-16
BAILLEUL
IS NOT M|NNM|ZED
BY OFFICERS HERE
Puts Huns Close to Haze
Z brouck, important Railway
So
e. Center, They Explain.
WOUNDED GERMANS SAID
TO FILL Is TRAINS DAILY
Nate Department Hears Of Immense
Toll Kaiser's Men Are Paying
for Ground Gained.

< for Ground Gained.
:. 9.
3
q. Army officers here do not minimize
sskAs gravity of the capture Of Bailieul
by the Germans. But they hold that
s6As British situation in northern France
tmay still be without serious conse-
1qusnces II the drive can be stopped
(which has Hazebrouck for its immedi-
sshts objective.
2. British forces. with the aid of all the
they can get, are ex-
ssbected to put up a stiff defense before
ss7axebrouck and to make desperate ef-
Nkorts to retake Bailleul. The chief dan
SGer of the entry of the Germans into
The latter point, it was stated. is tho
s5menace such occupation threatens to
s1lazebrouck. And the value of Haze
sbrouck lies in the fact that it Is = rail-
sFead and supply center for the British
skorces in Flanders.
Wounded FiN % Trains Daily.
q The heavy price the Germans are
rim dispatches to the State Department
sssayinE that twenty-five trains loaded
Eeish wounded are passing through
-Aix-la-chapells every night.
II II reported that at Aachen ak
the hospitals were = few
1deys ago crowded beyond their ca
pAcity and the wounded were being
lodged In schools. public buildings ana
psivats houses. There was great
phins. 1t IL reported that about TWEEN
<y.llve hospital trains have been pass
Ing through Aachen each night. II 10
ALSO reported from several sources that
fthe morale Of the German troops Is not
xGeod. except among the new levies of
3he very young.
eOMcers here do not believe that the
sacond phase of the German offensive.
nueA longer at its present strength. 1t
Reuld have spent itself before this:
4Asy state. were 1t not for the unusual
4fansportatifp and supply facilities the
seR q 8 ss1k ' ines. But BUT these have
been disarTanged bv the fighting before
amisns and Armentieres.
Al to Allied Man Power.
The statement Of Lloyd George that
the allies have superior man power on
HE western front 10 not discounted BY
He German advance in Flanders. it was
3tA4sA hare. The mobility Of the Ger
aAn forces. combined with the necss-
no for the allies to hold strongly all
eoAg their line. 10 long ~ they kept
= defensive nghtinS. has left the Gar
nans tree. thus far. to mobili1e great
srcss at given points for attack.
9Aere 10 an opportunity In the pres
42t scene Of operations for 4 British
DoQnter Offensive, a. there was at
kniens. for O combined French and
B1tioh counter attack, Army officers
selieve. But there IL NO indication that
- 70 In
zEtls Of fighting ut this time. The rea-
eAs for their rigid adherence to de-
Don1tve methods are not known. They
S1re believed to relate partly to the
Aaavy losses the Germans now are In
31urTing. weakening them for the time
when the allies are ready to strike
hack.
II Hasebrouck should be captured.
md the expectation is that the British
I'LL not permit such q contamination.
4he capture would mean a readjustment
- the British lines In northern France,
perts state This would entail q con-
4derable falling back Of the first army
north Of Yprss. and the first army sta
1ensd from there northward would be
precarious position unless 1t with
Dangerous Wedge for Huns.
But the Germans. likewise. are work
ing themselves into another dangerous
Wedgs before Hassbrouck. as they have
4e4e before Amiens. 1t liz not incon-
eezvable that Gen. Foch may soon take
e9yAntage Of both these situations.
IN 2 recent dispatch 1t was stated
thet German papers have printed esti-
mates that 100000 Americans now are
onGagsd in actual holding of trenches
{ alnng the western front. While CEN
tss h here has mot permitted details
seated that the Germans have not
QIoatly overestimated the part the
ANericans now are playing in helping
" defend the widely extended fronts
GRATED by the German penetration.
situation Serious, Many Here Say.
There IL no question that many Of
bears here view the situation as seri-
gu They do not all share the hope
9u3 outlook indicated by the War Col
sSe review Tor last week Even II
ehscked. they believe q third assault
eSeome other portion Of the British front
20 Do expected. coming with the
suedsnne,s Of storm from a clear sky.
eafing that the Austro- Hungarian
torces were preparing for drive
against the Italians. When 1t will be
sse.ssd cannot mot, be foretold. but some
atts check to the German movement
Austrians would launch their
IN that case. the scene of operations
Z on the west front might shift far to The
south to the area where American
S treope are on the front. The railway
lgnetion through which French or
a9ttish FORCES sent to Italy naturally
ypuld pass lies behind that sector. It
~ believed possible that the Germans
might throw their weight in that di-
fectton In an effort to prevent any sup
DeFt reaching Italy.