South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-29

now make brief survey of the campaign which
won the struggle and thus close the military articles
which have writing during the war
The campaisn Of 1915 opened March 81 when
Germans attacked the British front between the
Oise and the Scarpe Valley the greatest vic
tory of the whole the western up that
hour At the oltse az the onoratioDs the situation
from the allied camp confused and badly Analysed
10 the test OF the four years the al
lied against Germany with only dim exceptions
Of the gravity OF the peril the OF the
ing German blow.
Il appreciated in London and Paris that the
Russian collapse had enabled Germany concentrate
heF "hoie military power IN the vest. The maSni-
tude Of this power correctly estimated at some
zoo divisions, Approximately AZ than the allies
mad under their hands or could concentrate within
three months, but there little understanding Of
the new German tactics futile reliance the old
faith that lines could not be broken insistence up
the enduring evil OF divided itensned by
ever growing political interference.
The French at the outset the truggle
I'm far better shape than The British since its losses
and effort in 1917 had been mailer than that OF
us comrades IL was IN superb condition but unnistah
ably weary. the strain of four years visible tie
attitude OF the troops, gallant in resistance but
longer minded TO incuse in those offensive efforts
which had filled the pages of the years. It
also supcrbIy commanded and its generals were
70 wiz new glory.
BRITISH ARMY CONDITIONS
FAR LESS PROMISING.
condition n the British army far less prom
sing The terrible losses Of the Somme in 1916 and
Of Flanders in 1917 had MIXED the army of its best
auman material and these campaigns splendid as they
the spirit of sacrifice had brought the
pected harvest between British politician Brit
ish general there had come an unhappy division
opinion British soldier been compelled
extend his front dangerously, while British politt-
clan withhold the reserves necessary IN bo1 the new
supreme was exercised by a
Ia, not single general there lack of complete
ordination between the French and British armies.
result, not growing out of lack of loyalty mutual
desire to support, but inevitable consequence of
the divided system OF command.
the German conscious his opportunity AMI
had found Ludenorn leader calculated the
possible advantase out of the peculiar Ger
man methods and system Ludendorf made the basis
of his strategy the fact that from the Argonne
Ypres the Germans occupied the interior a semi
circle and could thus strike with equal ease at any
point, from common center, while. the Ger
blow fell, the enemy would be obliged to
his TO the imperiled point around the cir
cumference addition the Germans prepared at
lacks but at several points thus persuad-
ing both the French and the British that the main
blow would fall against themselves and consrainins
them to concentrate their resources on their own
Possessing superior numbers the central position
the Initiative, Ludendorff had the superlative
advantage OF tactic, system of attack,
resting the lessons of the Cambria battle Of the
autumn. when the element of surprise had
been combining with this the
centrauon devised by Huter in his ltsa campaign BY
method troops brought the battle
by night marches the enemy totally deceived TO
the moment when the blow would fall and thereafter
mass attack achieved its end.
TWO CLEAR DETECTIVES
OF MARCH II ATTACK.
attack March 21 two clear objectves.
Selecting the point in the front whore British and
French armies and where the actual line thin
nest Ludendorn sought to drive wedge between the
Two armies. rolling the British back upon and beyond
Amieus and thus out of touch with the French and
with their main base at Havre, nc sought also 10
open the Oise route Paris and push southWa rd
until his heavy artillery could pound Paris into ruins
or surrender. This was a great program.
realization Ludcndorn had the ultimate
resources of Germany miss success 10y
the narrowest margin
ON March p the blow fell. On front Of 80 miles
so German divisions fell Il British. after brief
artillery preparation uneNampleG in fury and rein
forced by gas shells i'm enormous quantities Tie
prise was complete i'm its erect fog deprived the
doomed fifth army OF the advantage of of its
preparations its support lines best poor
eoadi,ion and in the INST day Of the attack the line
.iar nj MIA Npt his d4t
he O dogeedly. retirng
bat maintaining its front intact
by the third day. however. the ruin complete
NTH army had dissol' ed INTO gallant fragments
--eat sap opening between the British the
French and continued TO widen for several days dur
ing which an The French reserve armies, which had
awaiting Cd German attack upon tner front
81 Chtuin DANES rushed up thrown
lp lu this time The German host pushed reentessly
PASSED the Somme. crossed the battlefield of 1916
Somue approached within is miles of Amiens the
eital center railway communications Southwark
The food reached and passed Noyon, touched tie
IassiEry highlands and extended MonJdidier.
GIN. FOCIt CALLED
To SUPREME COMMAND.
the midst of the disaster France aud Britain.
Win America. decided upon nomertous step, Gen.
Toch. victor the Marine ana of the User called
to supreme commend. Ee the
The German storm had itself out I'm the last
March thc Germans had finally been halted
lust east of The main Amens-Faris railway and just
north oG Iassi-ny heights. the lest junction be-
tween British French armies nad been restored
IsUt % tremendous Cefeat had involved the loss Of
100000 prisoners mainly British and more than 2ooe
sums LudcndDrG had NOT merely regalneo the
=round lost i'm the great retreat 1917 but had
r.roacEed Auliens ard broken new trcund which had
1.ot seen inyaCtr since sersemher. 1915
W1ile Foch -eoreanized the situation in Picardy
new German blow fen in Flanders Faing TO stir the
third British arm>. which under FNns held the ground
north the Gf,h aud about Arras the Germans had
breaking the front OF Hoines ufst