Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-07

The battle which had broken out
on the western front at the end OF
September had meanwhile continued
to rage. 1t took the form of a power
full attempt on the part of the enemy
to break through the army groups OF
the Crown Prince Rupprecht and Won
Boehn in the direction of Client and
Maubeuge, and through those of the
German crown prince and Won Gall
witt on their inner flanks on either
side of the Argonne in the direction
of Charlevlle- Sedan. The same idea
had been at the root of every often
sive operation of the entente since
the autumn of 1915. Up to the pres
ent they had failed through the eX-
haustion of the enemy and our power
of resistance.
(This allied strategy, which in the
end succeeded, was a great pincers
movement designed to drive the Ger
mans against the forest region of
Luxembourg and Southern Belgium.
Their main lines of communication
ran northward of this region through
Belgium and southwark through
Metz, If these communications could
be cut then Ludendorff's main forces
would find themselves huddled against
a wall of wooded mountains, through
which they could neither make good
retreat nor get supplies for fighting.
The Americans were pressing the
southern end of the pincers.)
Now we were weaker, and first
one and then another division failed
to fight. The number of shirkers
behind the front increased alarmingly.
The information stations. established
to direct stragglers to their positions,
were no longer equal to their tasks.
The men who fought in the front line
were heroes. but there were not
enough of them for the long line.
They felt themselves isolated.
Officers Clerks and Servants Often
Plugged Holes in Line.
The men looked to their officers
who bore the brunt of the fighting.
These officers, with their loyal men,
achieved miracles of bravery, Regi-
mental, brigade. and even divisional
! commanders, with officers and a few
soldiers, often with their clerks and
servants, personally restored the posi-
ton, and prevented the vastly superior
but no longer enthusiastic enemy
troops from breaking through We
may be proud of the men who fought
tiltSt ilcibiS llShlSs
Our losses. however. We're heavy
Our best men lay on the bloody bat
| tlefield. Many of our battalions could
| only muster two companies. Leave
was stopped. On account of difficult
| ties OF transport, men on leave at
home had to remain there for time.
They stayed longer than was good for
them. In the critical November days
there should have been very few men
on leave in Germany, but, in fact
| there were only too many.
The periods allowed to divisions for
rest and repair of their equipment and
! clothing became even shorter Good
divisionse had more work thrown or
| them than the less reliable. That, too
had undesirable consequences. The
! men could not understand why they
were so often thrown into the gaps
I and their morale failed.
The strain became greater and
| greater, and strength was exhausted
1t was uncommonly difficult to find
the true medium and at the same time
! to reinforce the weak spots. Cases
! increased where second line divisions
| had to be thrown hurriedly into line
and in which formations broke Ut
altogether. ia
The strain on the nerves of the
leaders at the front Increased without
cease, and they had a heavy task; but
they never lost their proud courage