The Washington herald., 1918-08-06
ALLIES REPAIR
REAR LINES AS
FIGHT SLOWS
Foch Gothers Reserves Be-
fore Vesle-Crown
Prince Still Hoping.
EXPECT CANNON DUEL
Two Bridgeheads Establish
ed Point to Superiority
Of Allied Artillery.
EXPECT CANNON DUEL

Late reports from France received
through diplomatic and American
army channels indicate clearly that
the forces of Gen. Foch are prepar-
ing their support lines thoroughly be-
fore attemting to move beyond the
Vesle River. As the progress Of this
work, depends in large measure upon
local conditions and the aid or block
ing Of the engineers efforts by the
elements. few facts are at hand by
which the immediate progress Of the
allied armies Is predicable.
Allied military strategists here. how
ever, are convinced that the German
army Is in q state of confusion bor-
dering upon decentralization. Careful
calculations Of the number OF trans
port trains. men and ordnance which
the Germans have been forced to move
over restricted routes OF esress in
the past ten days give every reason
to believe that the crown prince foces
a herculean task in re-organi1ing his
ssttered Hnd scattered divisions. Nor
Is his stan in q position to give much
attention to the Reorganization Of the
harried corps; the allies are close
upon their heels. and every effort
must be put forth by the German
leaders to preserve the fighting morale
OF their rear-guard units.
vesIe Crossing DimeuIt.
OF all military operations one Of the
most difficutl is that Of crossing a
river. particularly under fire. 1t is
assumed here that the Germans will
not forego the opportunity to strike
at their pursuers and. the crossing of
the Vesle river gives to the artillery
rare opportunity to do much in
holding up the allied advance.
The fact that the allies have al
ready established two strong bridge,
heads-by which is meant a bride or
series Of small bridges, adequately
covered by large numbers of guns
and defended by a gradually broaden
ing fan formation Of advancing troops
indicates to the experts here that
the allied advance is making every
reasonable progress.
German Efforts Divided.
As the situation is now presented
the German general staff must give
attention to two sectors widely sep
arated. They must guard against the
continued onrush Of allied reserves
toward the Chemin-des-Dames. They
must also give heed to the steady
feeling-out processes which have
grown more and more pronounced in
the region of Albert where the Brit
fish forces are straining at the leash.
1t Is safe to assume that the Ger
mans stih hold force in reserve. How
great thee reserves may be is among
the most closely guarded of all war
information. The hope Of the allies
that the German general staff. realiz-
ing the political unrest of the Ger
man people, would determine upon
battle to the bitter end on the Marne
sector is not fulfilled. German lead
ers, II appears, are not ready to
stake their all upon a single throw.
On the other hand the crisis in
the present battle will not have
passed until it is established that
Gen. Foch is fully satisfied with the
blow dealt the crown prince. and
has refused to use additional re-
serves in the exploitation of VIC
tory. Just when that crisis may
be is of course known only to the
few men who gather about the
council table of the generalissimo
at his headquarters.
e. Allies May Slow Up.
1t is possible that this week will
see the allied drive slow down. For
within a space seemingly short to
the observer. but to the fighting
man full thirty-six days, the allied
armies have turned the German tide
and sent 1t curling back. What be-
gan as a major offensive with Paris
as the prize has become a retreat
which has at any moment threat
ened to be turned into a disaster.
For all that, 1t is agreed in military
circles here that he allied pressure
has by no means been relaxed. The
pressure will grow even gerater at
many points, for now the allies hold
the balance of power. they now can
name the time and place Of battle.
and II is by such a situation taht the
morale o fthe German army can be
crumbled.