Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-28
FOE WITHDRAWAL
MAY COME SOON
Ludendorf Considering
Retirement to Hindenburg
and Seigfried Lines
REBUILDING TRENCHES
Four Factors Which May Pre-.
vent Checking of Allied Ad.
vance on Old Front
By WALTER L. DURANTY
Special Cable to Euening Public Ledeer

Special Cable to Evening Public Ledeer
oopvrfohf' 1913. bv Neto York Times Co.
with the French Armies, Aug. %.
Mangins progress in the region of
Bagneaux, though valuable as using
up enemy divisions and acquiring nos,.
lions. In view of subsequent oper..
tions' can hardly yet be regarded as
threatening the min-des.Dames. A
mas been suggested in some over.
optimistic quarters.
1t is doubtful whether the French
in this sector are vet able ser,ous,v
10 menace the Vesle line--situated
considerably in advance of the
stronger Chemin.des.D Danes position
owing to the fact that pressure m
either German line is bound IN ba
endangered by the enemv forces IN
'ne formidable st. Gobian massif.
winch for long years has been the
corner bastion of the enemy line in
France.
What French officer told me NYon.
day remains true today-it 20 nm ~.
British that the question of the Ger.
man movement rearward for the mo.
ment depends. Doubtless, Ludendorrr
Is already seriously considering tba
necessity. which may at any hour be-
come imperative, of withdrawa, mt
only in the north. but from the yesle
or even the Chemin.des. Danes To
the Hindenburg and Siegfried lines.
as held In the autumn of 1917.
Ihat would explain the obstinate
resistance OF Mangin's attacks-to per.
init the evacuation Of material and
the reconstruction of the old defenses.
FROM the north 1t Is reported that
SPADE work Is progressing apace on
the Hlndenburg and Siegfried lines.
The question will arise whether n.
enemy can again check our advance
by reversion to trench warfare. Last
year he was able to do so, but no,v
four new factors have interviewed 70
alter the situation.
Firstly, the Germans, instead of rs-
treating comfortably, according to a
long prepared plan to positions
minutely organized beforehand, will
be closely pursued by the Allies-'.at
the swords point"-as the French
say, and are bound to suffer from the
disorganization Of defeated units.
Secondly, German morale has been
weakened by series of disasters nm
prralleled In this wars history. Can i,
tured letters grow ever more desponil-
ent in tone, prisoners ever more de-.
spairing, and official orders that fall
into French hands are ever more in
sistent on incidents of indiscipline.
Now 1t Is reprimand to the artillery.
whose fire 1t Is complained Is hardly
less dangerous for the defenders than
for the assailants. Now it is severe
censure Of the infantry for having
shot down-and actually buried in
secret-a German aviator who seems
to have attacked them by "one of the
accidents that may easily happen to
German aviators." The last phrase,
which cite textually, is a sufficient
avowal In itself. Another time It is
instructions to officers to "use
weapons without hesitation in case
soldiers refuse to follow orders given"
The third factor Is the change In
offensive tactics that has resulted
from Hutier's maneuver. Smoke, gas,
and short but violent bombardment
have put 1t in the power Of a locally
superior assailant to smash even the
strongest land defenses by a sudden
stroke. The Allies have learned the
lesson, as the events of the last month
prove beyond question.
Fourthly, therat are the Americans.
That our participation for the last
rev weeks has been comparatively nm.
important in no-wise means that the :
enemy has no further cause to dread
IT. The Germans themselves know
that the fourth factor is perhaps the
most dangerous of ALL