Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-10-23
Washington Officials Believe
Time Is Now Ripe for Drive
Larger Than Any Yet
Launched by Allies,
GERMAN MORALE Low:
ALLIES AT THE BEST
Attack May Begin by First and
Second American Armies
Driving for Rail Arteries
Passing Through Sedan

lpr MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED papri

lay MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED NbFEf
Washington, oct. %. -- Now that
the Germans have been cleared out
of belgian Flanders and much Of
northern France, army officials here
are watching the battle front intent
ly, many of them with distinct
feeling that new storm OF attack
may be about to break against the
enemy There was nothing tonight
to indicate that this expectancy was
founded upon definite information
and it probably grows out of num-
Der of happenings of a minor char
acter in France. but possibly import
ant links in chain of events soon to be
disclosed.
Beyond doubt the German retire.
ment in Belgium has slowed down.
However, it is not yet clear whether
this is due to the fact that the re-
treating forces are nearing on the
whole northern front the line which
frequently has been selected BY mill
tary critics as the first pausing place
on the way TO the Meuse or the
border, or to the necessities of eX-
tending allied communication lines as
the troops advance. 1t is probable,
officers said, that there is necessity
for breathing spell ON both sides.
Headed for Mouse.
There is little doubt here that the
German army Is headed for nothing
short of the Meuse line and that any
pause viii be bht temporary TO permit
readjustment or the columns and sup
ply lines in order that the same or
deL,u sequence of movements shall
characterize subsequent retirements.
Several halts of this character may
be expected, it was said, as the with
draWaI project is carried out. The
fact that the allied armies are ham
pered by extending communication
lines gives opportunity for such halts
before Marshal Foch's forces can
come up in sufficient force to compel
a resumption of the rearward move
ment.
The line surrounded by the enemy
from Lille northward to the coast,
it was pointed out, was far stronger
and no longer than that he now
stands up on in Belgium. In addition,
by the evacuation of the Flanders
coast. he has furnished the allies with
means of setting up new and more
direct communication lines from
England via Ostend, Zeebrugge or
other Flanders ports. Without ques-
ton it is said, these avenues of sup
plying the advancing armies already
are being opened to free the longer
lines back into France OF that bur-
den and consequently officers can not
see any tactical advantage gained by
the enemy unless he intends to fall
back at least to the line of the
Meuse.
First Stage Ended.
The first stage of the great retreat
is almost complete. The German
right flank has been swung back like
gate all the way from Schemes,
south of Valenciennes, to the Dutch
border. South of the pivot, however,
there has been little change on the
front from the Disc to the Meuse 1t
has been noted that heavy concentra
ton of forces was made by the Ger
mans on the lie Cateau- Disc -Serre
front and also against the American
pressure northwest of Verdun. With
out question the retention of these
lines unbroken was vital to the Ger
man plan of action. Now that the
withdrawal in the north has pro-
gressed so fully, however. 1t would
cause no surprise here If retire
ment between the Oise and the Serre
were undertaken without delay, 10
rectify the whole line.
To many officers Il seems possible
that events have so shaped the lines
that great drive may soon be un-
dertaken, calculated to upset the
whole German plan of retirement. AL
ready the allied lines have been
shortened so that considerable forces
must be available for the work, par
ticularly British. The time can not
be far away also when the American
second army, under Major General
Bullard will be put into play.
Americans May Attack
To some observers 1t seems possi-
bile that wide attack may he made
by the two American armies, fboth
east and west of the Meuse, the
thrust being aimed at the great rail
artery passing through Sedan and
Montmedy. A cooperating French
assault west OF the Argonne would
naturally be a part of such a thrust
TO other officers, however recent
French raiding operations In Alsaco
seem to have significance. Apparent
y information is desired as to the
German strength on that front and
as TO the character and quality Of
the troops there. Such raids invar-
iabiy precede offensive operations AL
though they rarely disclose by their
locality the exact place of the pro-
posed attack.
80 far as the German peace
oVertures are concerned, army off.
GERS hold that manifestly now is the
time OF times for a new and crushing
blow. With the hope of early peace
being dangled before the eyes OF the
war weary German troops, their
moreale Will be at its lowest ebb. 1t
was said. while in the allied and
.s'sTserican ranks the round -about Ger
man admissions OF defeat can only
have been new xest for the fight.