The Washington herald., 1918-04-23
strong Attack Near NesriL

strong Attack Near NesniI.
The enemy''s heaviest concentrations
of guns and men have been noted
along The southern side of the north
ern wedge and along the northern side
of the southern salient. indicating that
Hindenburg will try to launch one CT
his favorite pioneer drives when the
great battle is reopened. The obJec-
tive OF such a movement would be the
British Arras-L,ens front
To the north Of Albert. the pivot OF
the northern leg OF his Amiens wedge.
the enemy delivered a strong local at
tack last night against the British po-
sitions around Mesnil. three and
half miles above Albert. In the initial
rush a British advanced position was
overrun. but Haig's troops were quick
to come back i'm a counter thrust and
after heavy fighting the British lines
were not only restored but improved.
French Front Quiet.
At HilIers- s-Brettoneux. nine miles al
most due east OF Amiens and Robesu.
near the point of the German wedge IN
the north. the British also rounded out
their positions in successful local op-
erations.
Along the French front the situation
had been generally quiet up to the
time tho official day reports were is
sued. French troops beat on German
surprise attacks east OF Rheims ana
on the east bank OF the Avre Around
the village of Themes, near Hangard-
cn-Santerre. the Germans again SUI
fered a local reverse. the French TAX
ing prisoners
Present Offensive the Last.
The group Of army Officers. detailed
by the War Department 10 analyze
the war strategy as il develops dsy by
day, received information yesterday
which led to unanimous agreement on
two questions heretofore doubtful IL
was agreed:
]. That beyond doubt the present
offensive of the German army is the
last great offensive they can launch.
unless the allies fail 10 achieve VIC
tory within five years.
.. Failure OF the Germans TO split
the line at the point where the Belgian
and British forces are Joined. and the
increasing strength Of the Germans
feeling out" tactics on the front
south Of Nerdun. coupled with infor-
nation of a confidential nature. give
the allies ample grounds for expecting
that the third phase of the German
offensive will be fought out in eastern
France. at the southern part of the
line, where American troops are sta
toned.
kaiser's Strength known.
The bearings of published infor-
nation upon the foregoing con-
clusions were explained by a prom
inent army official. He said: From
figures obtained by American agents
in many quarters we have reached
definite conclusions of the exact
strength of the kaiser's forces. We
have had these figures for som-
time and have been gratised to md
that more recent information tall
lies almost exactly with the facts
gathered previous to the drive.
From the figures OF strength.
and the known probability Of losses
we now know beyond doubt that
the German nation can not put an
equal force OF men into the field
again unless the war drags along
for five years more. There have
been many surprises in the war.
but one of the most difficult theories
to support is that Germany can en-
cure the great strain OF war for five
years more.
Strike Toward South.
Coming to our second conclusion,
which relates 10 the probable future
tactics of the Kaiser's leaders. we are
forced to the conclusion. held by sew
eral of our officers from the outset.
that the main drive. the supreme ef-
fort of the Prussians would be made
against the French southern lines.
In the past week the evidence has
daily grown stronger~in support Of
CONTINUED ON PA0E rOUR