Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-29
U. S. Experts Discuss the Mill
tary Aspect of Hard
Earned Advances.
COMPARISON OF LOSSES
AGAINST GERMANS, 2 TO I
Disaster to Allies Possible, But Not
1mmiment-Foe's Man-Power Be-
ing Gradually Exhausted.

Here are few outstanding facts
about the German drive in Flanders as
seen by military experts in Washington: !:
Military aspects of the situation are
no different from what they were week
ago.
The British army is far;ng well. IT'S
resistance Is effective. The present
method of defensive fighting seems
more advantageous to the allies than
would be counter attack at this time.
At the present rate of German ad-
vance there is no immediate danger Of
seizure of channel ports. and even II
Germans gain access to Dunkirk that
does not necessarily mean they will
reach Calais or points farther to the west.
west.
Many non military mind finds 1t hard
to make these views conform to the
news . from day to day-especially the
fact that the Germans have seized Mont
KENNEL, advanced toward Ypres and
seem to be unchecked in a slow If
steady march toward the channel.
Views of Military Experts.
But military experts say these opin-
ions are not expression Of an easy
optimism or effort to camoufiase what
really is happening. To enable the lay
other opinions of military men an
answer was sought for some of the
obvious questions that thousands Of
Americans are asking.
1t must be realized that there is no
denial that the situation in Flanders
has possibilities of grave disaster. but
this disaster has not arrived, nor is
there any sign that it is imminent.
Dispatches from England which point
out why the capture of the upper chan
mel ports would not be so extremely dis
astrous give rise to the question: ''Why
II such capture is expected does not the
British army retreat and thus save
enormous losses?"
Because. officers state, German access
to the channel is by no means certain.
Though important points have been cap
tured by the enemy, the advance has
been slow. half mile or so a day over
a period Of several days.
Comparison of Losses.
Meanwhile though British losses have
been heavy. German losses have been
heavier. probably by two to one. That is
why the British have urged that the pres
ent operation is one Of man power. Un-
questionably the Germans have counted
upon heavy losses. but they count on
British resistance wearing down before
these losses slow up their advance
Supposing that the British expected to
surrender Dunkirk, of which there is no
indication, 1t still would be good strategy
to offer sturdy resistance. officers say, be-
cause the wearing down Of German
strength then would forestall massed at
tacks at other points.
Another question frequently heard is
this: "Why, il the allied and German
forces were evenly matched. are the Ger
mans able to advance?"
This is answered by the elemental
principle of strategy that the side which,
when all else is even, takes the initiative
and is willing to incur the losses, is sure
to advance. 1t can mass it's men at a
given point, whereas the defenders must
keep fairly strong defense all along the
line. =
Question Of Counter Attacks.
"Why doesn't Gen. Foch offer a coun-
ter attack if he has a strong army of
reserves?" is another frequent ques-
tion.
To do SO, it is contended here, would
mean the playing of his last card at
this time. No general would do that
So long as the allied lines hold Gen.
Foch is not likely to use his reserve,
Also some of the reserve probably is
being used to hold quiet parts of the
ine.. The French took over about sixty
additional miles of the line so that the
British might concentrate in Flanders
Just now the British are being sorely
pressed, but in a military sense their
lines are holding. The Germans are
paying in human life full value for ter
~ritory gained in their slow advance
What the Germans hope for Is another
breaking through. like that before Ar
mentieres, which is the disaster that
the allies seek to avoid. II such a
break occurred a hasty retreat would
be in order to save the. British army
north of HaZebrouck and the valiant
Belgian forces beyond Ypres.
Method of Fighting Involved.
There has been some comment upon
the comparative speed with which the
Germans have retaken, points which
it took the French and British many
weeks to regain. The method of fight
ing is involved in that compa rison
The French and British preferred to
conserve their man power. Hence the
system of trench warfare, with its
barrage fire and surprise raids. de-
ve!oped by the French, by which ad-
vances were made slowly, but with
little loss Of life. The Germans saw