The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-02
THE WAR IN 1918
Kaiser Must Face at Same Time Two Great Forces on West 'front.'
American and British-U. S. Troops May Take Rhine

| ity for France TO go at the problem
! for a second effort, with knowledge
gained from experience. BY the time
| the experience was ready, France
hadn't the men to spare for new
advance to the Rhine.
Sometime during 1918, nearly four
years after Frances failure, MIL
LION MEN FROM AMERICA WILL
MAKE AN EFFORT TO SOLVE
ANEW THE PROBLEM OF THE
VOSGES MOUNTAIN BARRIER The
principal strategic aims of the Americ-
! an army in the new year, thus, will
probably take this order:
~ Making a secure passage
through the Vosges Mountains for a
military advance into Germany;
(2) Marching across Asace or
| Lorraine toward the Rhine;
(3) Forcing passage across the
Rhine into Germany proper.
This looks like an enormous pro-
gram for single year, when compar-
ed with what the allies have been try
mig to do for nearly three and one
half years along the west front. But
1918 is DESTINED TO SEE NEW
, CONDITIONS OF FIGHTING.
After three and one-half years of
slaughter, he best soldier material in.
the central empires as we'll as among
the allies has been killed or perman-
emily incapacitated. Even the second
best has been annihilated.
! Opposed to the third and fourth
best of the central empires, the
United States will have this year in
Europe, not only her best, but HER
SUPER-BEST.
A seconl condition that should
make the fighting in 1918 different
from the usual offensive methods of
previous years Of the war, is the
! proof the British gave at Cambria OF
the value of their tanks as offensive
weapons.
| Since the Cambria engageme nt, a
second use of the tanks for surprise
] offensive has been made temporarily
inopportune because of the heavy re-
Inducements Germany has cOncen-
trated along the British front. But
with American tanks in profusion at
the southern end of the western front
this wear, AMI with plenty of British
tanks at the northern end, the Teut-
ons will find the problem of adequate
concentration of their reserves we'll
night insuperable.
! over 300 miles will then separate
the areas of possible American and
British offensives. Real surprise will
have been reintroduced into modern
warfare on a gigantic scale.
Apart from Americans participa-
ton in the war during 1918, chief in
terest ought to center in the co-ordin-
! ated offensives of the British with the
American armies.
It is in accord with the best prin-
J, ciples or strategy that General Haig is
now resting his forces. Never since
the war began have the allies been
able to coordinate their major attacks
for any length Of time. This haphazard
method of fighting to which Germany
, owes so much, is to be abandoned in
, 1918 by the allies. Except to repel q
: possible German assault, the British
forces probably will remain compar
atively quiet from now until America
: gets ready to strike.
3 oZOL this ahaelilcpEs ptteoxeeerl
THEN WILL COME SINFUL
TANEoUS oFFENSivES at the
northern and southern ends Of the
western line, FORCING THE
J GERMANS ON THE DEFENs-
/ I'VE under conditions such as they
have not yet encountered Turing
the war.
II The French armies between tn