The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-10
A COMFORTING SPEECH

LLOYD GEORGE, in his most recent speech, made to the
IL Commons the British parliament throws more light
upon the conditions attending and preceding the German drive
against Amiens than the public British or American has be-
fore possessed
All that Lloyd George says is always Important but what
he says parliament greatest Importance for there he
speaks officially and is under strongest compuson to speak
with accuracy and elaboration.
The chief facts presented by Mr. George consong he
battle fought fifty mile 'front.' the largest battle
history and the greatest and bOadest attack OF the war
The forces employed both sides about equal The
Allies had slight nerorty in infantry but slightly
peror in cavalry and artillery and greatly superior IN air
power.
The Germans having the initiative the advantage of
knowing when they would attack where and how they would
attack They knew how many miles of front would be assault
and all the method by which the assault would be carried
They favored by two elements The terrain instead
of being muddy and mpraccabe, usually would have
been at season. dry firm The attack began in
mist which obscured observation and made gunre neffec
tive.
Yet the Germans did break the English line, did not
separate British from the French did not gain first class
part of their objective.
The most conong and impressive portion of Mr. Georges
remarks have do with the prognoss of the Allied Council at
Versailles The conclusion submitted by chief of the I'm
peral staff Henry Wilson, who thought that the attack
Arra that would be upon the broade
front attempted that its object would be to separate the
British and the French and to capture Amiens Yet
impressive Sir Henry concluded and sustained by
the Judgment of the council that the British line would be pene
trated to the extent distance half the width Of the attack
This judgment not guess. based upon
consideration OF the results attained In all OF the onsves Of
the war
Lloyd George furnishes to those who supposed the British
withdrawal have tactical and straegca evidence
for their opinion
1t is obvious that the Council when took into condera-
ton degree Of penetration equal to half the front attacked
would also have arranged for the accommodation Of this
traton in the most satisfactory way.
There other advantages than those of terrain In his
most instructive speech Mr. George said at reported to
good authority that the Ex-ng
tine: them for they have no united command"
inf Of hoto I'd
united command existed at the instant when the battle
begun may be that overlooked something
that might have changed his mind the fact that
have not united command may if necessity arises
Darkness and fog appear they have always appeared
the chief aids to the attack In darkness the Germans
ed most of their troops to concentrate them for battle In
they went forward to the attack he scheme defense
that particular part the line depended largely on the cross
line fire Of machine guns and artillery"
The Germans had therefore advantage was
sufficient.
Whether modern war has developed any special methods
against night movements and whether there other plans
for meeting attacks covered by fog does not appear
There be condition in which gun ma
chine guns artillery will be effective in fog the
light And always attack after it has suffered its
from the gunfire of the time, whatever is must be repealed
by the valor Of fighting at close quarters.
In this sort of work the Allies to have done we'll
enough for they held enemy of equal force whole
territory of the lines of slightly superior the
advantage which he theoretically should have gained
attack, the problem
of all earlier offensives
The Germans have nothing to comfort them and much 10
disturb They have driven salient fifty miles base and
less than fves miles its tip which is and will remain threat
to their safety They broaden their salient
oensves pro ected from its front which
tain to be wasteu by broad offensives either flank
which cannot hope to be successful than that has
failed.