Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-13
AMERICANS TURN
TACTICS OF HUNS
ENTIRE CAMPAIGN
Realization of Allies Growing
Man Power Has Forced Teu-
tons to Definite Defensive
Policy
By J. w. T. MASON

NEW YORK, Aug. 10.-America's de-
cisive influence upon German strategy
has been made plainly evident this
week by the refusal of Ludendorff TO ac-
eept Marshal Fochs challenge to a
pitched battle for the mastery of the
Montdidier salient and the highly i'm
portant front southeast of Amiens.
Faced by a strong British attack, UNI
dertaken in conjunction with the French
on the southern and Americans on the
northern, LudendOrfT has turned to the
defensive, duplicating the tactics he en-
ployed in his retreat from the Marne.
The Importance of this weeks progress
by the three allies is not so much in
the actual ground gained, but in the
implied acknowledgement by Luden-
dorff that he must shorten his front to
save his reserves.
The military results that have fallen
to Marshal Foch in three days include
the removal of Amiens from any imme
diate danger of a new German often.
sive, the reopening of the important
Amiens-Paris railway which was pre-
viously under command of the German
guns and the elimination of the strate-
gic value of the Montdidier salient as a
possible base for new German drive
to Paris.
Of this weeks victories are secondary.
however, to the fact that Ludendorff has
declined to permit his reserves to be
used for counter attacks.
Germans Wary
The allies have had TO meet strong
defensive resistance by the Germans
but no evidence has been apparent that
the Germans dare to engage in severe
offensive combats to retain their former
line between the Montdidier corner and
the Somme.
The reason is unques :ionably due to
the character of the fighting shown by
the Americans during the Marine en-
gagements and the knowledge in Ger
many that an unlimited number of the
same kind of troops is now being dis
patched from the United States 10
France The kaiser has shot his bolt.
He can no longer hope to win. Hence
forth he must abandon the conflict or
fight at most for a draw. The dominant
preoccupation at German headquarters
is to build up a new reserve organiza-
ton which must meet the forthcoming
major offensive of the Americans.
Hence, Ludendorff has revealed a new
timidity in holding his enormously ex-
tended front in the west.
The allies have pushed into German
positions this week with unprecedented
slight casualties. Again the reason is
Ludendorff's fear to resist when resist
ance means the depletion of his reserves
He cannot tell how soon these same re-
serves will be needed to defend German,
territory against vast armies advancing
toward the Rhine.
Rhine Endangered
A few short weeks ago it was the
safety of Paris and the channel ports
that dominated the military situation
along the west front.
Today it is beginning to be the safety
of the Rhine. The strain of defensive
strategy is passing from the allies to
the Germans. There can be no question
but that the kaiser knows his armies
in the west must eventually fall back
at least to the old Won Hindenburg line.
so that reserves may be taken from the
shortened front The beginning of that
movement is visible in this weeks devel-
opments between Montdidier and the
Somme. The Rhine, for the first time,
is influencing events in Picardy.