New-York tribune., 1918-09-28
What This Means Can Hesitate to Give the Very LmtV
America at Kerdun
BY Frank RI. Simonds
Copyright. 1918. New York Tribune Inc

our own soldiers are fighting at Verdun
has a meaning for us all. 1t is final evi-
dcnce of the fashion in which our new
army is taking up the task which the
French performed so splendidly for four
long years about the Lorraine citadel
The American attack between the
Mouse and the Aisne was launched from
the ground which saw the bitter fighting
of the second phase of the Verdun epic.
At the backs of our men as they crossed
the little Forges Brook were Dead Mans
Hill and Hill 304, famous in the May
and June battles of 1916 Further west
our men crossed the territory for which
the German Grown Prince fought in
September, 1916 Varcnnes, the termi-
nation of Louis XVPs tragic flight in
the days Of the French Revolution, has
been in German possession for four full
years.
Still further to the west the French
are lighting over the ground which saw
the first great Allied offensive, that of
September, 1915. The date of the last
operation was September 25, so an an
niversary was brilliantly remembered.
And as we have taken Varenncs, Mont
faucon and half dozen places memo
rable in the battle for Verdun, the
French have taken Tahurc, Cernay,
Navarin Farm, objectives fought for in
the Battle of Champagne.
Now, what is the meaning of this
new offensive? Why was our First
Army transferred from the right to the
left bank of the Meuse? Why did we
interrupt our push for Metz? The answer
to these questions seems plain. 1t is the
old answer We, as q weapon in Foch's
hands, are being used, now at St. Mihicl,
now at Verdun, to exercise ever increas-
ng strain upon the enemy.
PcrsEing's attack in cooperation with
Gouraud was not primarily directed at
the capture of ground or the cutting of
communications. These were incidental
foch is attacking the Germans on all
sides, as Grant attacked Lee, seeking
the destruction of thc German armies.
The day is to come when some one OF
these attacks Will cut clear through and
we shall have am enforced German re-
treat from the IIndenburg line such as
Lee was compelled to make from his
great Petersburg lines in 1863 But it
took many months to bring this result
about
do not think one can too much en-
phasizc the idea that geographical OBJ
iectives arc minor. When we struck at
st. Mihel Metz was in all minds, but
instead of a blow toward Metz we now
have stroke north Of Verdun. A new
gain has resulted We have taken guns,
men, material; we have smashed a sec
tor of the German front, put a new
strain upon his diminishing reserves and
contributed to a further lowering Of his
morale
What has happened in Macedonia is
the best example of what Foch is striv-
ing for everywhere. Attacks in France
drew up from the Balkans German Aus
trlan and even Bulgarian reserves. As a
result, Balkan blow brought Bull
garian collapse Now, sooner or later a
blow in Flanders, in Artojs, in Cham
pagnc on in Lorraine will achieve the
same result for the same reasons. The
German is outnumbercd; he cannot be
equally strong everywhere, and we shall
catch him in the West as he has been
caught in the Balkans. The job takes
time, but the outcome is assured.
Looked at locally, there is this to be
said of the latest Franco American Of
fensive. The vital railway lines CON
Meeting the German front in Alsace-
Lorraine with the other front in North
ern France are not more than twenty
five miles north Of Verdun A success
full Allied advance from Verdun to the
Belgian frontier would cut these, make
it next to impossible to reinforce one
front from the other and greatly add to
the difficulties Of the German armies in
France.
Indeed, it is hardly too much to say
that if the Americans and French should
get north from Nerdun for twenty miles
a German retreat behind the Meuse in
Belgium would be almost inevitable. SO
grave would be the threat to all German
communications. If the German front
before Nerdun had collapsed as the Bull
garlan front before Monastir caved in.
then American troops would by this time
occupy positions insuring German re-
treat and threatening German disaster.
But 1t is essential to regard each
of these blows, in Macedonia, in Lor-
ralne, in Flanders, as detail In 1864
90 Grant was striking the Confederacy
with Meade's Army of the Potomac, with
Sherman's army and with Thomas,s