Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-23
BY General Erich Iufendorff.

len Iuucn0OfiIs
attacked in April and May and met
with even minor successes. We should
then, as in the autumn of 1915, have
had desperate struggle. our supply
of munitions had diminished to an
alarming extent,
If the Russian successes Of July
had occurred in April and May, / do
not see, as | look back, how CHIC,
could have mastered the situation.
During these two months of 1917, in
spite of our Aisne- Champagne victory,
it was the Russian revolution alone
that saved us from serious trouble.
On the Far-Elung Fronts.
The Russian offensive took place
later on, in July. two months after the
Anglo French attack, and even then
it was not a united blow, as in the
autumn of 1916. 1t was a divided
push, and operating, as we did. from
interior lines, we were able to repel
and overcome our isolated opponents
one by one. a.. ..a
on the italian front, too. there was
violent fighting in May. The tenth
battle of the Isonzo once more closed
without victory for the Italian army,
In Macedonia an enemy offensive on
large scale collapsed before the Bull
garan lines. The submarine cam
paign again achieved good results in
April and May and relieved our west
ern front.
For the moment the French army
remained inactive, in order to recu-
perate after it's recent defeat. Later
on it confined itself only to local en-
gagements, although these were of
considerable intensity. The main for
ces of the British and Belgian armies
supported by French troops were held
in readiness for the attack in F'lan-
ders. Fresh offensives We're also to
be opened on the Isonzo, in Macedonia
and Palestine.
In Dark As to Allied Plans.
In the summer of 1917 ] naturally
was not able to form such clear idea
of the intentions and measures the
enemy were then maturing, as | did in
July and August.
A weakening in the French attacks
was perceptible in the second half of
May, and the French army continued
to be comparatively inactive. Mean
while / had to reckon on reopening
of their offensive, which was possible
at any moment, either here or on any
sector of the line. The British army
continued fighting on the old battle
field east of Arras in the second half
of May. not, indeed, with the intensity
shown in the Somme battles. but still
pursuing it's tactics Of attrition.
At the beginning of June increased
activity on the part of the enemy was
noticeable in the neighborhood of our
salient at Wytschaete, south of Ypres.
The Strengthening of this salient really
began in the great Flanders battle in
June. As long as 1t remained in Ger
man hands every British attack al
Ypres and to the north of that town
was outfanked from the south.
The tactical position of the German
troops in the Wytschaete salient was
by no means favorable. There We're
some thoughts of evaucuating it. The
army. however, was of opinion that it
could be held. Repulsed attacks are
always to the advantage of the defend
ing side, owing to the immensely
heavy losses they entail for the enemy
The group of armies and CHIC. there
fore agreed that the salient should be
held,
Great Mines Break His Lines.
We should have succeeded in re-
| tanning the position but for the eX-
ceptionally powerful mines used by
the British, which paved the way for
| their attack, consisting, as usual, of
fierce artillery fire supporting close
| ly massed infantry advance. The re-
suit of these successful mining opera
lions was that the enemy broke
| through on June Z.
| The heights of Wytschaete and Mes
sines dominating Ypres from the
SOUTH had been the site. of active
mine warfare in the early days of the
war. For long time past, however,
both sides had ceased to use such tao
tics; all had been quiet, and no sound
of underground work on the part of
! the enemy could be heard at our lis
1 tening posts. The mines must, there
! fore, have been laid long before.
The moral effect of the explosions
was simply staggering; at several
points our troops fell back before the
onslaught of the enemy infantry
Powerful artillery fire penetrated the
Wytschaete salient hindered effective
intervention by our reserves and the
recovery of the position. The Sehn
line (on the further edge of the ridge
overlooking Ypres) was then taken ur
! with our consent I refused to counte-
nance any suggestion Of further with.
drawals. tia ga
June I cost US dear, and owing tt