South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-15
STAGE NEARLY
SET FOR BIC
DASH BY HUN
Washington Believes Present
LuII on Battle Front of
France Only PreSageS
Violent Storm.

WASHINGTON. June 15-The
present luu on the battle front in
/ France only presages a new and
more violent storm Of attack on the
allied lines in military opinion here.
/ The impression is rapidly strength
| ening that the stage is almost set
/ for renewal of the German main
thrust at the British army around
Amiens. with the channel coast as
the objective.
Belief has never wavered among
the majority Of officers here that
the real purpose of the German gen
eral staff has been from the first TO
cut the allied armies apart by
drive that would carry them 20 the
channel; that arrived at that goal,
massed attacks would be hurled
against the southern sector for the
purpose of destroying the British
army. while strong defense was
maintained against the French 70
the south The thrusts al Paris
have been looked upon as well plan
ned and executed feints designed 10
weaken the Amiens front before the
GGal effort should be made there.
on no other theory can these OBJ
servers explain the sequence OF
German operations in the great
battle; and on no other basis. they
say. can the campaign OF defense
waged by Gen. Foch be understood.
Reserve Being Assembled
IL is a battle in which the ulti-
mate reserves will win the day. as
the fight is seen here. If the Ger
man general staff considers the
present situation along the vast
front stretching from Ypres on the
north to Rheims on the south.
promising for the final effort. the
ultimate German reserve is now be-
ing assembled for the attack while
the fighting fronts take breath.
Some observers believe further
efforts are 10 be expected TO fiatten
out the Compiegne salient COM
pletely before the main attack is re-
sumed. If so, they argue that the
next flare OF activity will come along
the front of the Compiegpe salient
where the fighting has just paused
momentarily. Simultaneous assaults
from the north near AutheuiI. from
the southeast between Chateau
Thierry and Vnlers Cotterets forest
and from the eastward, between
scissors and the forest proba bly,
will he launched, il Is thought if
Compiegne is regarded as vitality
necessary 10 future German moees
In that case the American force
above Chateau Thierry stands di-
So,
Fear American Aid.
other observers are almost con-
WINGED however. that the situation
not only permits, but demands that
the enemys main attack be pressed
without delay, as American aid is
coming forward more swiftly than
the Germans could possibly have
estimated would be the case. The
German coup must he attempted
before the Americans can turn the
scale i'm man power
Omcial announcements show that
approximately half a million Amer
lean soldiers have landed in France
since the German drive began. AL
ready they have aided in sta biliz-
ing the lines is they now stand. At
"a recent Qdle american forces nelQ.
i'm all, more than 80 miles Of the
western front. One element OF Gen.
Pershing's mobile forces. by direc-
ton Of Gen. Foch, guards the way
az the apex of the whole German
wedge near Montdidier. Cantigny,
recently recaptured from the Ger
mans by these forces. is very close
to the point Of maximum penetra-
ton achieved by the enemy in near
" three months Of desperate fight
ing.
Baker Has Confidence.
Secy Bakers reaffirmation yes
terday Of American confidence in
Gen Foch was made with full
knowledge. for Mr.. Baker was in
Europe. in conference with the al
lied chieftains. when the plan of
campaign now being followed wa
worked out He knows why no ef-
fort has been made 10 wrest the
initiative from the enemy. Many
officers who do not know are frank
~ puzzled. and cannot understand
why some Of the obvious openings
/ for a great counter thrust have not
| been seized