El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-10-27

launching his offensive, included as
an essential condition attacks by the
Russians and by the Italians NiVelle S
plan had presupposed the same ele-
menL but now the Russians and the
Italians were out Of the reckoning.
Retreat to Hinderburg Line.
More than this. in the first days Of
+ February the Germans suddenly be-
gan their great retreat Slowly at
first, rapidly later. they drew out Of
their positions on the somme. They
evacuated precisely those lines
against which a great offensive might
have been launched with some hope
Of success
on March 4. before the German re-
treat had become general OF con-
siderable, Franchet d'Esperey ap-
pealed TO Nivelle for permission to
attack at once as the enemy was
about to retreat Nivells answered on
March 7-after three days delay
that a German retreat was inconcelv-
able since the Germans had so
] strongly fortified their positions sur
rounding Rove; but on the day after
the Nivelle dispatch reached E'ranchet
ld'Esperey. the Germans were out OF
Rove. Thereafter, followed the re-
treat and pursuit until the Germans
were wen behind the Hindenburg
line.
Instead Of an attack in circun-
stances that Nivelle had planned
Franchet d'Esperey's armies now
found themselves beyond the Elacis
/ Of desert 25 miles IN width which
was destitute Of all means OF com
! munication confronting position, 10
attack which would involve months
! Of preliminary preparation and the
] employment OF formidable artillery
which could not he broI-ht I'D for
many ~eelzs owing TO tile destruction
The great Nivelle plan has been
. comprehended in two formidable
] thrustS across the rear OF the Ger
mans in positions from the Somme
near Peronne 10 Rheims. hut the Ger
! mans. by retiring. had thus avoided
I one Of the two converting thrusts.
I Nlve1le had envisaged attacks rom
/ two sides OF q square and on one side
an attack was henceforth imnossiole.
Germans Reinforce Positions.
This was not alL In. addition. the
Germans had reinforced their posi-
tons on the Craonne plateau 50 that
where there had been Two lines in
/ December, there were four in Feb
ruary, as Allcheler had reported They
Z had concentrated their artillery.
elaborated the caVerus and grottos
on the AiEne heights. multiplied their
concrete works. ana created an almost
impregnable position At the same
time they were working on their
Hindenburg line
Thus. bv the middle Of March. such
chance OF success as there had been
for the Nivele plan, had vanished
The broad front had been narrowed
By mere than half. the remaining
half had been sown with new de-
fences, and German reserves released
By the Russian revolution we're
already beginning 20 pour westward
Meantime. while the chances OF sue
cess we're thus rapidly disappearing,
circumstance had combined to create
expectations out OF all proportion 10
the remaining Possibilities
The retreat OF the Germans. actually
one OF the most skilful pieces OF
strategy IN the whole war. was rep
resented to the French army and the
French public as flight-as the be-
ginning Of the end-and the French
soldiers were In a white heat OF exc
element At the precise moment
when the high command. save for
was unanimously convinced OF the
tmpracticahIitv OF the great plan. the ,
army was filled with an optimism as /
dangerous as 81 was Tremendous I
Nivelle and the common soldiers ex- !
pected a supreme victory. but the gen I
recognized the likelihood Of a check 4
with even greater losses than these 4
OF the S0ume and with consequences
Of the morale OF the army beyond [
BRAND Cabinet Fails.
From all these officers there now 1
began to flow protests and at this 4
moment the BRAND cabinet fell In I
the Rlhor cabinet which succeeded !
H. PaleleVe. the new minister OF war. I
promptly discovered the chaos exist /
ing In the army The relations be-
tween Nivele and his suborciuates ]
we're strained. these subordiuates had 7
lost confidence In their commander.
Yet amidst this anarchy. Nivelle's as
surance had grown beyond belief To i
those who wa rrran I'm nfH the siren OF
Of the Craonue plateau and the I
change IN the general situation. he
replied that he had the Craonne
plateau in his pocket and the sole
doubt was whether he would have I
10 pause north Of Ilaon. az the Serre.
to reorganize his transport. before he I
pushed on 10 the Belgian frontier.
The new ministry had now 20 con
slider the adrisaoility OF permitting
any offensive. but the Russian reFo-
luton had made some operation
necessary alike TO help Russia. still
apparently an ally. TO prevent a With
draWal OF German troo7s from the
Russian front for use against italy
which actually did occur in the rail-
with the resulting desaster Of Capo-
retto- Finally the submarine cam
paiEu was becoming so grave a peril
that il threatened TO win the war I'M
less military success could retrieve
naval failure
The ministry was satisfied that
Sirelle's grandiose plan could not
succeed. but II inclined to favor a
lesser offensive, with limited obiec-
tives, an attack which should be care
fully planned and thus incur small
losses while inIEcti1E heavy casual
ties upon the enemy and achieving
useful gains. Coneeivably the initial
attack might result in Nivelle's break
# &c did, well and good. then
the operation might be expanded.
This was the program OF the gov
srnment As f0- Nivele- he heard all
warnings military and civilian with
victory At the moment OF attack
be showed the government maps. /
which have seen calling for an OPEN
ng advance OF eight miles and this
optimism did not desert him. when I
IS. 900 French dead and 800 Yards OF {
gain were the total profit OF the first
lay OF the offensive.
Victory Prospects Vanish
On the strategic and tactical sides.
therefore,, the prospect Of a great vic
.ory had vanished long before the :
actual attack on April 16. 1917. On
he mechanical and technical sides
he promise was even more dismal.
Sivoiie undertook 70 expand Petain's {
method. applied to four or five miles
81 enemy front into an attack on q J
not able 70 deal with so vast a prob
EN-, comparable with that which was
successfully handled by Ludendorff a
-ear later his armies we're thus
nadeuuately trained and the wavs Of
sommunica ticn were Insufficient. Z s
While the medical service broke
Town.