New-York tribune., 1918-06-02

to abandon their drive at Hazebrouck in
Flanders because they failed to take the
high ground at Givenchy and west of
Ypres.
But it is well to recognize that the
German has now created a new front be-
tween the Disc and the Marine, facing
Paris, and nearer to it than he has been
at any time since his retreat to the Aisne
in September. 1914. If he can secure
his eastern flank toward Rheims the pos
session of this front will constitute per-
manent threat to Paris and will nevita-
bly, compel the Allies to maintain great
reserves between Paris and this threat
ened sector. Such reserves can be OBJ
from the front between Amiens and the
Belgian coast. And any such subtrac-
ton of reserves from the north will in
vite new German thrust in that direc-
ton.
Up to the present time the German
has succeeded in dislocatng all the Allied
front from Rheims to the lowlands west
OF Ypres, except for one narrow sector
about Arras. He has abolished that
great system of defences created by the
Allies last winter to serve as bulwark
against the German offensive. He is
changing the character of the war, which
is becoming more and more war of
movement, and it is becoming therefore
more and more perilous for the Allies to
attempt to hold front as long as they
have been holding with line necessarily
thin because of its extent
The signs now point to a gradual
slackening of the German effort between
the Marne and the Aisne with possible
intensification of effort between the
Aisne and the Avre, that is, between
Scissors and Montdidier, and a possible
attempt to drive southwark toward Paris
on the west bank of the Disc. What we
have to apprehend most is the second
German blow, which may come in the
north about Ypres, at Amiens or at the
western end of the present operative
front between Scissors and Montdidier
1t would be mistake to minimize Ger
man achievement or underestimate the
peril which the present German battle
tactics have for the Allies. Unquestion-
ably within the next few weeks an an
swer will be found to the present Ger
man method of attack. This may entail
retreat of the Allies on a wide front
north of the Somme; it may even involve
the surrender of the Channel ports in
order to secure the necessary reserves to
meet the German thrust. These things
would be regrettable, but by no means
fatal.
Nothing can be fatal but a supreme
military victory, and the German has
neither won this nor is he far on the road
toward it. He is repeating in 1918 sue
cesses in 1914 which enabled him to in
wade Northern France and reach the
Marine, successes which compelled Joffre
to abandon much French territory and
to concentrate his forces in the face of
the German effort. When he had con-
centrated his forces he won the Battle
OF the Marne. Then, as now the decision
rested not upon geographical conditions,
but merely upon military circumstances.
Now, as then, the German has to crush
the armies before him. Now, as then,
ne has won brilliant local successes, but
has not broken armies, destroyed enemy
organizations or paralyzed the military
establishment of. his foes. We have many
anxious days before US, but nothing has
Fyet happened to warrant any such an
prehension as existed in the days before
the Marne