New-York tribune., 1918-08-16
A Ne1u Hndenburg
Retreat?
By Frank H. Simonds
Copyright, 1918, The Tribune Associn-
tio,s (The Neav York T1ibune)

the latest German retirement, that from
Serre and Beaumont Hamel, it is not too
much to say that this retreat points di-
rectly toward a far wider German with
drawal, at least to the line Of Bapaume-
Peronne Noyon, and possibly to the old
Hindenburg line itself.
The reason is simple. Serre and
Beaumont-Hamel, together with CONNIE
court, which has always been in British
hands in the present campaign, were
the anchorages Of the German line at
the Somme all through the battle of
1916. Before these three places the
British offensive on July l was checked
with the most appalling losses of the
whole war in the West. Serre was never
taken by battle, but remained in German
hands until the Hindenburg retreat be-
gan. Beaumont Hamel, first attacked
on July l, did not fall to British arms
until November ID. It's capture was
the most brilliant feat of the British
army before the Battle of Arras, the
following spring.
The Serre position is of very great
strength and commands the line of the
Ancre, both southwark toward Albert
and eastward toward Bapaume. Because
the Germans held this position the Brit
ish were obliged to make their long
Hanking operation up over the Albert
Ridge, which lasted for many months,
but resulted finally in turning the Ger
mans out Of the Somme line. Now an
evacuation of these same positions by
the Germans would seem to be, as it was
IN March, 1917, a prelude to a with
drawal from the whole Somme front. at
least to the line of the upper Somme.
There has always been and remains
the possibility of an extension Of the
operative front by the British through
an attack between Albert and Arras. A
successful push here of seven or eight
miles would not merely flank the present
German positions south of the Somme
and between Chaulnes and Noyon, but it
would also abolish the line of the upper
Somme and compel an immediate re-
treat to the Hindenburg line. The Ger
man retirement now may be sympto-
matte Of apprehension of coming at
tack, as the retirements across the Ancre
and the Avre ten days ago were the first
hint Of the Anglo French storm which
was coming.
1T is worth recalling, too, that the por-
ton Of the present German front be-
tween the Somme and Chaulnes, along
the old 1916 front, proved in the First
Battle of the Somme exceedingly vul-
nerable, and the French in the first
phase of that old struggle pushed right
through all the German defences to the
high ground above the Somme and op
poslte Peronne. Indeed one of the great
opportunities of the war seems to have
been lost here, where little more energy
might have resulted in the complete PEN
etratlon of German defences and a rand
and enforced German retreat, such as
was compelled only in an orderly fash
ion nearly a year later.
All in all, it seems inevitable that the
Germans should retire at least as far as
Bapaume, north of the Somme and
thence in line south behind Nesle and
Noyon. Ludendorff has stopped the AL
lied rush. He can organize his retreat
as he did in the Marine salient between
the Ourcq and the Vesle, but the obsta-
cles and perils of a permanent halt nm
the old Somme line are manifest, and the
retreat from some Of the strongest of
the old positions north of the Somma
and the Ancre is, at least, to be looked
upon as a suspicious sign.
Perhaps it is worth saying at this
point that the Third Battle Of the Sonme
IS, IN the main, British victory. It is
mistake to attempt to apportion glory
and credit between the various Allied
armies and commanders, when all are
dong their uttermost to assist in tba
common cause, but the brilliance of
FRENCH performance in recent weeks has
inevitably led to a certain sighting of
British contribution, which is manifest
~ unfair. Be it said, at once. that no.
Where has the British achievement been
SO generously and accurately appraised
as in Paris
The great attack on August 8, which
led to the breaking Of the German lines.
was made by Rawlinson's Fourth Brit.
ism Army, which drove through German
lines and made real gap in Luden-
dor1t's front. between Albert and Mont-
aloler' that is, between the Awe and the
Ancre. General Debeny's First French
army south of the Amiens- -Roye high
ways and on the flank of the British
nep' pace with the British advance, and
General Humbert's Third French Armv
wheeled into line south of Montdid;er
ana thence to the Disc at the proner no-
tHn