New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-12

British and the French have completely
ruptured the German front between the
Somme and the Lassigny high ground.
They seem to have accounted for up
ward of eleven divisions, or three less
than Hutier disposed of in his March
offensive. But now, as them the troops
on either side of the gap are standing
firm on high ground, and there seems to
be a tendency of the Allied drive both to
grow narrower and to move more slowly.
Ii this tendency becomes more marked
we may expect to see the whole drive
come to halt at the west bank of the
Somme, south of Peronne and the lines,
at least temporarily, stabilize them
selves on front Of Peronne- Ham
Chauny, or even the high ground north
and east of Noyon.
On the other hand, the obvious Allied
move now is to attempt to break down
the TANKS or pivots of the German re-
treat, and more particularly the north
ern pivot. If the Germans can be forced
out of the high ground about Bapaume.
the famous Ridge" of the old Sonlme
days, then new section of the front
Will be set In motion and there will be
no chance of a German halt-even a
temporary pause-west of the old Hin
denburg line
10 take another illustration: After
Boehn had broken the French line north
OF the Aisne in May and began his push
Tor the Marine, Foch did not attempt at
once to throw reserves in front of the
Germans. On the contrary, he nut them
on the sides of the wedge the German
was driving, and by pressure gradually
narrowed the German operative front
until by the time it had reached the
Marine it became so narrow that further
progress was impossible owing to Allied
cross fire, and the Germans, after a
brief effort to widen the wedge by at
lacking between scissors and Chateau
Therry, paused to prepare for a later
offensive.
Now Ludendorff is attempting to shep-
herd Foch in similar manner, hoping
that by the time the point of the ANGLO
French wedge approaches Nesle and the
upper Somme it will have been so mar
rowed that further progress will become
impossible At Cambria last year the
Germans first followed these methods
and then, when the British effort had
spent itself IN the creation of a danger
Gus salient, attacked that salient and
brought off considerable counter suc-
cess Which robbed the British of the
fruits of a brilliant stroke.
we have not to fear another Cambrai.
because the present Allied move is a
sustained offensive, not a mere specula-
ton without adequate reserves to exploit
success, as was the Cambria attack; but
we have to look forward to German eff
forts, frst, to narrow the wedge, and
eventually to try to break in any dan
gerous salient which may be created, for
there is bound to be a German reaction
after the recent blow has been parried,
wherever that blow may stop.
1t is we'll to bear in mind, too. that
there are distinct differences as we'll as
many points of resemblance between the
present and the Marine blow. Then the
Germans had committed huge army
with vast military stores to an operation
out OF dangerous salient, and when
toch counter attacked they had terri
bic problem to extricate their men and
supplies. In the present case only the
actual holding forces, eleven divisions
instead of twenty-five or thirty, are in
volved' and the artillery is only that
amount necessary to hold quiet sector.
Inc German can, then, better afford to
retire swiftly, and while he retires or
game his counter stroke.
In sum, we are annroacb;rr +ho o~;...