Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-30

give battle in q position three to four
kilometers, more than two miles, IN
rear; the front line was merely held
as outposts, who We're to fall back on
to the main position before the attack.
There was thus a possibility OF bring
ing the enemy's first onslaught to
naught, and getting notice of his in
tentions IN time.
Southeast of the battle front be-
tween the Somme and the Disc the
9th, like the 18th army, had made all
preparations to put up stout resist
ance. An attack between the Olse
and the Aisne was anticipated and
might be launched at any time about
the middle of August. The reserves
surrendered by this army to the End
had been fully replaced, and 1t was
now we'll equipped in every way
Prepared for the French.
Two counter attack divisions were
held in readiness near Cuts and Nou-
vron, seven miles apart on line be-
tween scissors and Noyon, where the
enemy's main thrust was expected.
The army headquarters staff had
thought out and organized everything
with the greatest care.
There was less probabilitNA of an
enemy offensive on the Nesle Nwhere
the Americans held n large part of
the line), There We're no indications
of an offensive on the sectors held
by the German crown princes, Won
Gallwitz's and Duke Albrecht's army
groups. The situation might alter
very quickly. however, in view OF the
advanced state Of the enemy's prep
arations on all fronts.
CLIO. had to be prepared for the
extension of the enemy's offensive to
Crown Prince Rupprecht's army
group, especially between Arras and
the Ancre, and to the 9th. covering
Noyon and Scissors without neglect
ing the other sectors. The divisions of
the 7th and LIST armies defeated in
the Marine pocket. which had been
withdrawn from the line at the end
of July and beginning Of August,
could not be given long rest. Some
of them had already had to be put
into support behind Rupprechts army
group, and this was. of course, very
hard on tho~' A." additional strain
was thus thrown on the railway COM
munications in the west.
Great Allied Attack Begun.
On August q the English attacked
south of Arras between Boisleux and
the Ancre: this was the first of a Sc
ries of attacks on Crown Prince Rup-
precht's Santo~ which lasted almost
uninterruptedly to the end of the war,
and made the heaviest demands on
the group headquarters and their
armies
The 18th army had fallen back in
time, and the English attack broke
down in front of the new line. This
army had fallen back two miles and
left only outposts in the front lines.
1t was stationed east and south or
Arras) on the 22nd the 18th army,
by permission of CHG, counter
attack on its whole front. They were
but it would have been bet
ter not to attempt il.
Immediately afterwards the English
offensive spread souwards. On both
banks of the Somme there was heavy
the main weight of the at
tack being directed between Albert
and Bray; the Australians had no
success.
The first two days had thus gone
well for us. / began to hope that
here, at least, luck was going to turn.
During the following days, however,
the English, who had but few fresh
reserves at their disposal, gained
ground towards Bapaume after very
severe fighting.
The characteristic of their tactics
was narrow but deep penetration by
tanks after short but extremely vio-
lent artillery preparation, combined
with artificial fog. Mass attacks by
tanks and artificial fog remained
our most dangerous enc
mics. This danger increased in pro-
portion as the moral of our troops
and as our divisions grew
weaker and more exhausted.
Division Refuses to Fight.
The depth of penetration was soon
known. but not the length of front to
be attacked, Well-timed counter at
lacks by reserves generally succeeded
in restoring the situation. There re-
manned the danger, however, OF the
local command throwing in their
troops too hurriedly and piecemeal.
AS the offensive developed the
enemy succeeded on the north in
pushing us back from the Anere. At
this point a Prussian division, known
to be a poor one, it is true. and for
that reason given q sector covered
by the river. had refused to fight.
This threw the whole line into con-
fusion. The natural difficulties of
fighting In the shell-hole area of the
Somme battlefield. east Of, Albert,
were increased by the fact that. owing
to bad railway communications, 1t was
very hard to get reserves up in this
region. The situation there became
extremely critical about August 90
It was certain that the enemy often
sive would continue.
Gudendorff here suffered from the
devastation he caused in 1917, for he
found it hard to move his troops and
supplies over the blasted region.)
South of the Somme. on the Pc
rome road. only local attacks had
been launched. The 18th army was
engaged. but put up al
splendid fight. In view of the events
east of the Disc the left wing was
sewing back closer to Noyon; the
handling of the 18th army by General
Won Gutter was particularly cool, and
he was very ably assisted by his chief
of staff. Lieut.-Colonel Buerchner.
fPuhhshed by special ARRANGEMENT
with the Mcclure Newspaper Syndi-
cate. Copyrighted. 1919. by Harper