El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-13
Germany Hasn't All The Brains

IIHLE all credit must be given to Gen Ludendorff and
" the commanders under him for the mastery manner
IN which the German retreat has been conducted that
comparatively few prisoners have been taken by the allies
(abOut 5000 in month when entire German armies
menaced by capure) nevertheless Ludendo must not be
given appreciation for every bit Of strategy the Germans
There is too much tendency the part of allied spec
atorS to credit the Germans with inventng all that IS
celent IN military usage Perhaps that Is because the
Germans have actually evolved great deal Of very excel
lent strategy Of which the allies have been prompt
to copy But they have monopoly invention All the
military brains IN Europe to be found at German
great headquarters
It happens that LudendOrf is now being credited with
inventing bit Of strategy which admittedly has been
powerful factor IN the retreat OF his armies to the linden
burg line.
On July he issued supplement to secret order which
he had sent through the ranks June 26 the subject
Of defensive actions and the steps be taken make
them complete and effective The date of the order
in view Of its contents and the relative positions the
Germans and allies at the time Of its issuance of remark
able significance.
There little doubt that Ludendorf was already be-
ginning to be anxious about the future though up to then
since this years series of Ofensives had begun all attack
ing big scale had been by his armies and
ucay all the defending by the allies and he actually
on the point OF launching yet another offensive which
to be the triumphant finish Of them all Possibly he could
foesee that his grand blow might fail and that the allies
might then launch the counter offensive If So he
true seer and his warning most timely.
The burden Of the order complaint Of the tendency
Of German commanders to make the depth Of the advanced
in front of the real line Of resistance too and
put too many men IN the front line when acting the
defensive.
IN THIS zone there ought he points out TO be distance
500 to 1000 yards between the advanced posts the
position held by the defending force the real line Of
stanoe and the the position and the weaker the
strength Of the artillery the greater its depth ought to be-
Referring TO the small local attacks which the allies had
then made Ludendorf asserted the allies had
too many prisoners, which led him to correct the defence
plan However he considered it equally applicable to de-
fence against grand assaults.
The commanders under Ludendorf acted on his order
and the plan has been used since with good results
far any results be good which ward off entire de-
srucion But LudendoT did not originate this strategy
He copied II from the French.
Gen Hum6ert may have evolved it. At any rate, he
well in defence against the German offensive in June Tie
Of the German offensive Of July IS by Gems Gouraud and
ginning because of the way in which the French had with
drawn the bulk of their forces before the attack began
They had Withdrawn behind advanced zone Of COM
bat leaving only small number Of IN the front line
isolated posts of resistance But smaller scale this
IS exactly what Gen. Humbert had done and he followed
up By great principle Of this system Of defence
which is that Of attack with relatively small numbers Of
troops On June II, Gen. Mangins four divisions
launched against the enemy his night flank, Just
July 1s with much larger and important force he
attacked the right flank south of the Asne
From these facts It Is certain that the methods
defence and offence not from German great head
quarters but from side and the defensive part
being copied by the enemy In giving the Germans due
red therefore, for what military genius they have dis
played do not forget that better brains fighting
N side of the line