Bisbee daily review., 1918-10-19
WELL ORDERED IS THE GERMAN
 WITHDRAWAL
Army Officials Admit German Staff Is Conducting Sue cessful and Skillful Retreat So Far; May Yet Crack
ORv Review I.eased WIrel

WASHINGTON, Oct IS. - While German retirement in Belgium has glittering possibilities. military opinion here is forced to the conclusion that what is in progress is a well ordered and executed withdrawal, probably upon prepared positions. The fact that reports from other portions of the front, notably from the Lille area and the sector southeast of LaOn also tell of retirements, gives the move ment indications of a general with drawal, but as yet no official infOrma- tiOn has come to indicate where the line upon which the enemy will at tempt to stand, has been established.
 Army officials can take no notice of the numerous reports of an impend- ing complete equalization in seeking the explanation of the German maneuvers in the field. They can ascribe those operations to very defi- nite and we'll developed plans of the German general staff. It was said tonight that the enemy probably has begun the second phase of the with draval he has been compelled to un- dertake as a result of unwavering pressure by Marshal Foch all along the battle line. Lacking the reserves with which to make a stand on an extended front, 1t is to be assumed that he is falling back to a much shortened line where he can show greater resisting power.
 There is reasen to believe. how yer that under the hammeTing of the allied and American armies, the Ger man high command has been com pelled to make a compromise. h. stead of holding on to the front lines until the new front was in complete readiness, it is regarded as highly probable that the advanced positions are being abandoned barely in time to avoid encirclement and the retire ment being made to defenses not fully equipped and certainly not manned with extensive reserves. If such is tn case the retiring armies must turn and fight again when they reach the new lines. The rapidity of the allied pursuit in each case gives no oppOr- tunity for rest or reorganization.
 The genius of the German general staff is plainly shown, officers say, in the skill with which the withdrawal has been conducted thus far and it is still evident that a well ordered movement is clearing enemy forces out of the Belgian coast area. The sit uation there is hay in many respects, however, due to the swiftly changing nature of the lines. Pursuing cavalry may upset the German schedule and large captures result.
 The reports showing that the French were making progress in clearing up the Oise-Serre pocket. southeast of Laon, attracted particular attention here. This narrow point of high ground between the two rivers. guard ed by wide. marshy water lines on both fronts. has appeared to be the bastiOn on which the enemy resistance in the center rested. It has been re- garded as incapable of retention for any great length of time as it is sub ject to a three-sided bOmbardment by heavy guns that eventually wOuld force its evacuation. The enemy made this sector. however. a part of the Hunding line and has been employ ing it to hold up the general advance in the center.
 The collapse of this position pre- sumably meas a rapid straightenins of the whole center of the front. At the wings of this vital part of the line. American troops northwest of Verdun and Anglo-American forces at Le Cateau are hammering their way ahead toward the main communica- tion lines that support the whole enemy framework This probably ac- counts for the stubborn resistance on
 Continued on Page Four)