American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-05-31
HALF MILLION MEN USED
IN GERMAN SECOND DRIVE
Allied commanders and Newspapers
Speculate on Purposes of Drive.
Whether for Paris or the Channel.

4
The International News Service cor
respondent says that the German at
tack on the Aisne was launched By
twenty divisions
While the strength of a German di-
vision has been variously reported at
between 1900 and $1,000, competent
military writer's have lately come to
the conclusion that in major offensiyes.
such as the present. the German di-
vision is maintained at its prewar
strength-2O,0O0 This would mean
that the original attack was launched
by 100000 German shock troops. Paris
officially reports the arrival Of fresh
German troops. SO that the attacking
army by this time may be estimated
as fully half million strong.
Though the hour is grave. there is
no undue depression in London The
British public follows the news from
the front with stole calm and with
firm confidence in the final outcome.
Military experts believe il would
have been imprudent to throw the al
lied reserves into the defense Of the
Chemin- -des-Dames whiel the probab-
ility of a German main thrust-most
likely in the center. against Amiens-
continues
The attack south of Ypres is inter-
preted as being designed to fix the al
lied reserves in that sector.
The Germans suffered the heaviest
losses in storming the Chemin-des-
Danes. increasingly hurling fresh
masses up the heights 10 achieve their
object. The allies maintained their
cohesion throughout.
Information shows the allied troops
between Auxaillons and Rheims we're
engaged as follows:
The French held the line from
/, Vauxailion to Craonne. There the
British joined them. holding the front
eastward to Bermicourt and from
Bermieourt TO Rheims the line was
held by French
The critics are asking whether the
i Germans seek by this colossal opera
tion to cover the left flank with the
view to making the main thrust against
Amiens and drawing the allied re-
serves southward from the Picardy
battlefield
Generals Foch and Petain are re-
lied upon TO have considered eventu-
alities and to be able 10 meet the sit
uation
The Star says the mixing of French
and British troops is evidently de
signed TO eliminate a single French or
, British front, thus frustrating all ef-
forts TO drive a wedge between the al
lied armies.
The allied retirement TO POnt Arcy
is i've miles from their original line
but as the Daily Mail points out, it is
[ no longer a question Of less ground
= but of supreme battle tactics at the
crucial point
] The Westminster Gazette says:
If the German plan is TO draw Foch
{ into sending his main reserves to the
= Aisne while the principal German at
tack is made elsewhere. no design is
less likely TO succeed.
: II seems improbable that with an
attack on a thirty-mile sector. the
Z enemy could yet have forces enough
S for a still greater operation But if
n the Aisne operation is pursued, il must
n become-whether so designed or not
D. the main operation.
l. If the Aisne operation is, indeed. the
r. principal one. experts argue, it shows
that Hindenburg had no hope OF
Il smashing the improved allied northern
$ frontier and getting 10 the channel
u ports. but that he has chosen. instead
: 10 try 10 demolish the French army
T. before aid increases. II also shows
the German staff's reversal 10 the
: strategy in which armies. not cities
Q must be captured or destroyed to give
d victory
The consensus of opinion among
5 military writer's that. since this Is a
+ test OF man power. Germany must soon
> surrender her temporary advantages
= resulting from her initial attack.
{ The situation is delicate and diff
? cult" says the Globe we probably
e have many weeks of the keenest ankle
" before us
The Pail Mall Gazette insists nl
r strategic point equals Amiens in i'm
+ portance and that should a wedge be
driven TO the Somme estuary thai
z would inflict grave embarrassment:
e upon the handling Of the allied force:
and encourage the enemy to spend his
utmost energies 10 inclose our forces
q between the Somme and the Elan
> ders coast"