Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-24
GERMAN ARMY STRONG
SAYS MILITARY EXPERT
Present Retreat Orderly and By
No Means a Rout; Foe May
Make Firm Stand.

Washington, ID. C., oct. W--Tbe
war situation sum arzed by pronni-
nent military writer and critic. follo2s
"Thc last several days have been con
tinucd and systematic withdrawal oi
the Germans toward the Scbeldt River
There has been no evidence OF haste or
confusion II appears 10 have been cor
Quoted methodicslly and IA good oT-
der The reargisrd work must have
been exceptionally well performed. L6-
tie has been Faid during these days Of
the fighting which has been actually
taking place. We have regarded rather
only the territory which Germany has
gwen up.
But this territory has not been gained
through continuous and costly ghtinz.
The British casualties last week we're
almost as heavy az IN any other week
Of the war, totBliDg over 1000 men.
This in Itself shows the grieling nature
Of the fighting. II shows, TOO, that there
il yet no indication Of rout or lack %
organization in the German Amy II
IS still held in hand admirably. and is
giving q good account II it9cf
Gould HaKE srEoSG gTAHD,
What will happen when the 3cheidt
line is reached has not vet become sp~
parent With very small readyus'-
nent IN the line between the Serrc and
the Oise the Germans could prohabiy
hold the scheldt line for some time shouD
this be part ~ their plan
The German line IS generally ~ tac
present moment admirably placed for
defensive fighting Beginning e thr
Dutch border, the Inc follows the cast
ern bank Of the ,3cheldf Canal a. far
~ its junction with The Isvs River. Herr
i q considerable barrier which the Bel
gians are making every effort % crosg
on their way 70 Ghent 60 ling rOuth
from Deyonzp. which il tho point ~
junction mentioned, the line passcs
through relatively open country Ri'h rG
considerable barrier before u
But just 3 few mile7 bacl stheScleid
where the re- reating Germans can again
take refuge The line reaches The ~rheid
further south, near Aveghefn. 3nd thca
/ follows This canali7ed river fOr many
miles. to the junction 4. the ~eheld'
with the Iscaiilon j. foloue then tFrs
stream almost ~ It's source and after
I crossing the high ground east af j CsteaI
nuns behind hc ~ornbre Canal. rhenc'-
! along hc Cise md the Serra where L
curves u the eastward north II I.aon
srRoNc <ATUaAr. EFESSzs
1T Is 70 ~ n0'iord that prsrricali
Tor the entire length Z behind f1r-
nidable water barriers and these barrier
I Bre more difficyit by far than those further
west Northeast of TournaI. Tor example
the country inclosed bv the bend n the
-rheldt Is almost mountainous. The
! hills rise verv sharply and cover 'hn
river thoroughly. Not only that. bu5
! because Of the courses ri the streams and
! canals il is almost impossible 70 tianS
| this bill country from either the north
/ or the south. This section u the front
! will give the Allies q great deal of trouble
and possibly do much 10 hOidup tse ad-
1 vance
/ Just 10 the south 81 thss hill system
and northeast Of Ealenciennes are the
| heavy marsh belts, which line the Condo
! Canal between Mons and Conde. Alto
, eether IL IL a most unfavorable countr7
against which to operate from the west
ALLIES AT HARDEST TASK
In fact il NAV he said quite generally
that the Allies are facing the harCies'
j mart of their task. They are approach
ing steadily rising ground. badly cut up
with streams oi varying size, wnere u
viii be difficult Tor tanks 70 work and
where the fighting IS certain % ~ stiff
The terrain, then. strongly favurs Ger
MANY and her apparent purpose ot Great
ing delay
This most patiently the Germans
scheme nder ordinary eircumstancs
the enu ~ ne sighting season ls near
In the last tnree vears The middle Of
November or rhe ust Of December AZ
the latest has seen ne end u tie can..
/ paigning-
rEsT PERIOD ELNEFII 10 nEEMAAS
Ii weather conditions impose Tie
same restrictions upon the Niles. Ger
nanv vii have obtained "a badly needle,
period ui rest. Germany wants tlme r-
work. ID keep her peace waves ID mo-
non. 10 lockey ior position 10 lie hope
tuat III -oms way she ,uat cpG a statca-
man who being deceived by her prop
aEauda will ne atie 20 rISC ms v,t.
for a compromise. Failing IN -nis she vi.
ced time 20 aecustom her people in To-
lea of eventual surrender and 80 pre-
vent cataclysm from overturnlng the
ruling classes.
/ Much will depend on the severity
Of the winter and the date at which j,
-cgins as 20 how far the Germans vii
| r treat pefore they declde 70 make
i L. But every action they have fought
h,Ss cen a delaying action, and rs sIci
has teen to degree successful. They
have dought refuge behind streams snq
have fought AT each one Il sS long as
| seemed possible. Then they have SLOWLY
pulled out and repeated me program
al the next barrier. SO il has gone IN fcl
the last six weeks.
FRENCH FACE STRONG OPPOSITION
on the French front 5hese tacgl>s
have been particularly successful The
French have been held IN position sion.
the Ose and the Serre for many Day
Small gains have been recorded but tiet
/ defense of THESE streams oy heavily
manned machine gun posts has pre-
ented the French from clearing out
/ the country west of the Aisne bend
In the meantime Germany reg,
fog An armistice rctore the situa,icr
.-f, gur al+oc,.r hpr ol,t ~ t.ortroi