The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-11-28


tomorrow's instailmcnt Of Ludcn-
dorff.
most dangerous positions: and wo
had exchanged views on tactics. Tho
group OF armies under tho Crown
Prince Rupprecht and tho German
crown prince were strengthened with
divisions. artillery and munitions.
and were provided with everything
necessary for successful defense.
Where help was desired gave Il TO
the best OF my ability.
BRITISH BLOW
STAGGERING
The Sixth amy wanted to make
a rectification of It's line by means
OF local advance at souchez. be-
tween Lens and ArraA, and prepared
to carry Il out at tho beginning Of
April. l had no doubt that great
British offensive was imminent Mt
Arras. The operation at Souchez
was abandoned.
begged the command % the
group Of armies 60 bring M their
reserves nearer TO the line IN the
AREA of the Sixth army. Tho las,
attacks at verdun In October and
December had confirmed the Old
adagc tina, the right place for re-
serves is close 20 tho firing line. The
tactics Of defensive battle demand
ell that. In many places on the front
under attack. counter attack dlvi.
sions should he held In readiness Ia
tho second limo 70 meet and throw
back the enemy n he broke thru the
first line.
Tho divisions which constituted
the second and third waves were M
decd moved UP by IN. Sixth army.
but on tho sth wcr. not clos. enough
UP. On the sth. after a short bu,
extraordinarily intense artillery
preparation. our army encountered a
powerful attack. led by tanks. on
both sides OF the searpe teaSt of Ar.
razl Several OF our advanced poal.
tons were overcome. Tho ncixhbor.
inx divisions which stood firm suf.
fered heavy losses
The enemy succeeded before noon
In reaching our battery positions and
seixing heights which dominated the
country far 20 the east. Tho eoun.
tasattaeking dlvislons were not there
TO throw the enemy back. only por.
tons OF the troops could be brought
up by motor transport
HE WAS DEEPLY
DEPRESSED
The situation was extremely criti.
cal. and might have had fsrreachinr
and serious consequences II tho rae-
my had pushed further forward. Hut
tn. British contented themselves
with their great success and did not
continue the attack. nj least not on
April D.
on that day celebrated my birth.
day at krcuznach. had looked for
ward 10 tho expected offensive with
confidence. and was now deeply dc.
pressed Was this destined 20 be the
result Of all our care and trouble
during the past halfyear7 Had our
I principles OF defensive tactics proved
false. and " so what was 20 b. donc7
4 was not at the time able 10 get n
clear view OF all the details OF the
battle. sent for officers who had
taken part In the conflict In IN.
from; line. and by means OF CONVEX.
sationa with them and telephone
communications gained tho impress.
sion that the principles laid down by
general headquarters were sound.
But the whole art Of leadership lies
In applying them correctly. More
over. a division had failed hero which
had previously enjoyed a high rcpu.
tatlon.
The battle OF Arras on April was
a bad beginning for tho decisive
struggle OF this year. April 10 and
the following days were critical. The
consequences OF break thru OF IL
TO is kilometers B 10 10 miiesl wide
and six or more kiiometcrs "a miles,
deep are not easy 10 meet. In view
OF the heavy losses in men. guns and
ammunition resulting from such n
break thru. colossal efforts are
needed 20 make good the damage.
/ II was the business OF general
headquarters 20 provide reserves on
n large scale. But II was absolutely
impossible. with the troops at our
disposal. and in view OF the military
situation. TO have a second division
Immediately behind every division
that might possibly fall out.
HARD TO FORM
A NEW LINE
A day like April 0 threw all cal.
culations TO the winds. Many days
had 10 pass before a new line could
really be formed and consolidated
The end Of tho crisis. even II the
troops were available. depended very
largely. M II generally does In such
cases. on whether the enemy. after
his first victory, would attack again.
and by further success aggravate
the difficulty Of forming a new line.
Our position having been weakened
such victories were 10 be won only
too easily.
The British attacked again Mt the