The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-04-03
H|NDENBURG IS A
POOR PROPHET.
FAILS TO MAKE GOOD HIS BOAST
THAT HE WOULD BE IN
PARIS BY APRIL I.
It Is Now Only Question Of Time unt''
Allies Will Be Able to Build UP
Sufficient Force to Strike
Deciding Blow.

Wosbinrton.-The boast of Won Hin
denburg that he would be IN farls
by April 1 has proven an empty one.
The bravery and stubborn fighting OF
the allied forces has prevented the
representative of pitiless Prusslan
power from fulfilling his prophecy.
Although the German gains In ten
DAVIS have been such as to dismay the
average observers, they should take
heatr of hope from the testimony OF
General Bell before the military al
fairs committee of the senate. Inc
general stated that while he was In
France he had been confidently ac-
uuainted with the allied plans ana
that these included retreat in case OF
full-fledged German offensive. Inc
plan was to retire, eXacting the
heaviest possible toll from the enemy,
and at length to rest on some strong
line.
Even though we assume that the al
lies have fallen back greater dis
lance than they intended, this need
not discourage us. The Huns have
concentrated all their fury in this one
stroke. If it does not attain its OBJ
| jective we shall have positive proof
that even with Russia out of the war
the allies are able to Withstand the
heaviest assaults Of the foe. 1t will
then become merely a question of time
when the allies will be able to build up
sufficiently superior man and ma
terial power to strike the deciding
blows.
The German kaiser, in bombastic
language, boosted of what had been
achieved, but showed his own doubts
and fears when he again called upon
his people to stand firm. His armies
had lost about 100000 men in ten days
and, by implication, he was urging his
people to face intrepidly an equal or
greater loss within the next ten days
or two weeks. He was able to point
out that 1900 guns and $4,000 pris-
oners had been captured, but he could
not tell his people what they most
longed to hear-that the allied line had
been definitely broken in twain. That
would have done more to hearten them
than the boasts about prisoners, guns
and materials.
The situation continues grave be-
cause the German pressure has not
lightened, but the allies seem to have
plenty of reserves. The American
army of several hundred thousand
has been offered by General Pershing
to General Foch and has not yet been
used. The only Americans who appear
to have been engaged are ammunition
carriers, hospital men, engineers and
observers. The engineers probably as.
sisted in destroying the railroads, We.
hecle roads and bridges.
In the retreat the British carried Off
most of their big guns, which have
not yet been re-emplaced. Their ar
tillery men performed prodigies IL
serving the field guns and hOwitzers
Frequently German attacks were
broken up before they had been or
ganized sufficiently to approach ma
chine gun and rifle fire.
The French entered the battle JUS
two days after the enemy had begun
the drive. 1t was necessary for then
to hold the line near La Fere. The,
fell back somewhat from that fortress
and swept out in curve to the south
westward as the Germans pushed for
ward. Soon their line was at RICH
angles with La Fere and ran pas
NoyOn to the west. For some days tn
French held the line of the Disc an,
even now have not been forced bacl
far from the river. Gradually the
were able to mass their reserves so a
to keep the enemy from making
breach between the French and Brit
sh armies. A week after the CON
mencement of the battle they had sui
t1cient reserves to take the Offensiv,
This was not Il general offensive.
was a drive on a front of six or seye
miles between Lassigny and Noyo
ana its purpose was to relieve TN
pressure which the enemy was brin,
ing against the French forces occup,
ing the heights in the Montdidier SCI
tor. The results of these operation
seem to have inspired the allies wit
confidence that the two armies wi
not be separated.
Teutons Increasing Air Force.
French Front.-Great preparatio,