The sun., 1918-10-21
GERMANS PREPARE
POWERFUL DEFENCE
Hunding Line to Which They
Are Retiring, Is 20 Miles
-.
Shorter.
BY TIE Associaied Press.

| Events OF the last three mouths. ip-
J volving the ebb OF the German tide OF
/ Invasion in France and Belgium: have
emphasized the importance Of the Ger
man defensive systems which have been
| prepa red by the foe for Just the emer-
! sency which now confronts him. The
allied world Is now studying the war
maps to determine how far the present
| German retirement may be expected TO
| continue. and what the Entente armies
may expect when they reach the front
| where the Germans will stand at bay.
! The German defensive lines resemble.
| to use a smile. q tree with three main
branches. The trunk of this tree has
its root at the Swiss frontier and con-
tnues north as far as Metz. where 1t
I, divides into two branches. The westerly
branch runs to the northwest as far as
| the Meuse River, where 1t separates, one
| limb" crossing the Meuse and running
westward. after which 1t sweeps to the
| north on a lorg curve. The other FOL
! whence IL runs to Brussels and Antwerp
and thence TO the Dutch frontier.
| First bnc Already Untenabie.
The branch that crosses the Meuse is
the first that must be broken by the AL
| lies. In fact, recent British and Belgian
| victories in Belgian Flanders seem to
have rendered a lage part of this line
untensble as a permanent defensive po-
| sition.
This line crosses the Meuse at Dun,
| goes through the Argonue forest and
| then follows the Aisne River as far as
| Rethel. where II turns north and passes
near Guise and Soiesmes. 1t continues
| northward past Falsnciennes and
reaches the Scheldt at Condo II runs
along the Scheldt past Journal and
| Client. where 1t turns TO the eastward
and reaches Antwerp. This Is the
"Hunding line"
The second line. known az the Tine
of the Meuse," II established on the east
bank OF the Meuse River northward
from Dun. 1t passes Sedan and Me-
zieres and enters Belgium just 10 the
southwest OF Diuant. At Namur II
leaves the river and runs TO Brussels.
continuing on to Antwerp. where II
joins the 'Hunding line" and continues
on TO the Dutch frontier
The third line is the original defence
Zcne along the German frontier soutl,
or Metz. 1t IL centred around the thirty
seven permanent forts about Stra ssburg
II runs over the high and precipit ous
hills on the Vosges Mountains and is
several miles deep.
| Met. strongly Protected.
At Metz the Germans have constructed
fwenty-eight great forts which are sc
located as to command all approaches
and at the same time capable OF con-
centruting their FIRE on any one fort
which happens to be entered by The
Allies.
Northwest of Metz is the great iror
field of Briey. The Importance OF this
iron deposit has compelled the German:
to convert the whole country there Into
: q veritable fortress. This line run,
along the boundary between France ant
Germany, bending to the northeast unit
II reaches the Luxembourg line.
Il If this belt should be pierced the Ger
mans may fall back to the SaarbrueclSe,
and Kaiserslautern regions. which ar,
interspersed by rivers and high wooded
hills which lend themselves admirably
to defensive operations. ...f
Fast Of Luxembourg. 1t is reported
the Germans have devoted great dea
of time and labor TO the construction o.
, permanent Notifications.
The country along the Belgian frontie,
between Luxembourg and Holland Il
dominated by Coblenz. which Marsha
Foch considers the key to Germany. II
. this area Is Bonn. a fortress OF tho mrs
class; Cologne. which Is protected by &
broad belt OF entertainments, and a series
OF strongholds running along the western
side OF the Rhine until that river pas
into Holland.
Should the three lines mentioned b,
broken. or Il the Allies should hreni
through between Metz and me Swis
frontier. the Germans would be com
PEELED to fall back into Germany proper
or to the south. TO cross the Rhine
This historic river is really the western
moat OF the Teutonic castle. Its holt
eastern bank is strongly fortified aur