New-York tribune., 1918-07-30
Crown Prince Has Escaped
Trap, but at Unprece-
dented Losses
Gen. Foch May Elect
To Strike Elsewhere
Foe Probably Has Erected
Strong Defences on
New Line
BY Arthur S. Draper
Special Cable to The Tribune)

copyright. 1918. by the Tribune Association
LONDON, July 29.-The German re-
firing movement is continuing, and it
now seems clear that the Crown Prince
has settled upon the north bank of the
Vesle River as a line upon which to
make stand.
The Allied forces are in close pur-
suit all along the broad arc and find
German rear guards in considerable
numbers maintaining q stiff resistance
wherever it is vital for them to check
Allied progress.
Franco American troops have passed
the Ourcq at many points. Progress
north of the Marne is notably slower,
but now that they are out of the
wooded country it is likely that the
9Th and 9th armies will come into
alignment with Degouttes's 10th Army.
New Three-Mile Advance
The advance within the last twenty
four hours approxmates three miles
along a twenty front. Although
the Allies are recovering valuable ter
rtory, 1t is only fair to say that the
Crown Prince is conducting his with
draval skilfully and orderly and is
shortening his line, which is highly
important step to him after his tre-
mend6Gs losses of last week.
The fact that the Allies are now TAX
ing few prisoners shows the Crown
Prince has escaped dlsasteH however
great may be his defeat. Neither have
the Allies captured many enemy guns,
though they forced him to destroy
large amounts of munitions.
Since July 1S the Crown Prince has
suffered a heavy moral defeat. He has
deranged all of Ludendorff's plans, and
has lost the initiative along a sixty
to eighty mile front, but the Germans
are far from beaten, and it is wise to
keep this in mind at a time when op-
timism runs high.
Whether the Crown Prince will be
able. to hold a line on the Vesle de-
pends largely on the value Foch sets
on this position.
Foch May Strike Elsewhere
In May, the Crown Prince crossed
the Aisne and Vesle the same day. but
the situation then was totally different
from what it is to-day. The German
storm troops rolled down between Sois-
sons and Rheims then with hardly any
thing to check them
iAI llc PIcSeHI time, tnoTe are nuEo
forces Of Germans north and south of
the river and they have undoubtedly
constructed strong defences north of
the river during the last week Foch
must invest heavily to win the north
bank of the river, and perhaps he will
decide to smash at some other sector
which would prove more productive and
less costly.
BY withdrawing from the salient and
shortening his line, Ludendorff has
shown that he is not ready for a de-
the same time, by his interference, that
he is unready to abandon his offensive
policy.
Likely to Strike Soon
Since July Is, Ludendorff's army has
probably lost a third of it's effective
ness and fensive power. His tacti-
cal positions are at least a third weak
cr On the other hand, the Allies arc
stronger dei ensively, but not as pow
erful Extensively.
II Ludendol' # takes six weeks for re-
organization and rest and replenishing
equipment he should have approx
mately 200 divisions ready in the Vest
but in that per iod Foch will not only
have made good his losses since July
Is, but will have a much larger force
at his command
Americas contribution of fighting
troops is being made at rate far
exceeding the Yeinforcements Luden-
dorff is capable of receiving. Luden-
dorif knows this, and it is likely he
will strike again before August has
passed, even if his blow is limited.
Rupprccht's army has been idle far
too long already for troops supposed
to be imbued with the offensive spirit.
Politically there is nothing in de-
fensive policy for Ludendorff and the
rest cf the militarists Nearly two
thirds of the lighting season may be
counted gone and the Germans are still
far from attaining the objectives they
set in the beginning of the campaign.
By almost superhuman effort Amer
can military authorities have thwarted
the German military leaders, and un-
less the latter can catch up with L,uden--
tortf's timetable in the next two months
they are down to play a defensive role
Until peace is made.