Evening star., 1940-06-09
Allies Resistance Undergoing
Severe Test, Maj. Eliot Says
Question Now Is Whether They Can Stop
Mobile Forces That Broke Left Flank

been called up since the war, some
for training as combat troops,
others for supply and administra-
tive services. Probably a good many
more divisions are now under train
ing in Germany, but can hardly be
considered effective units for some
time to come.
First Line Held Back.
If second-line infantry is now be-
ing thrown in on the Somme, the
conclusion is inescapable that first
line troops are being held back for
a decisive blow after the French
position and new Weygand methods
have been thoroughly tested out by
troops whose losses will not be Sc
verely felt; British military experts
are reported as saying that "the
Germans may not yet have delivered
their main attack"
OF course this main attack NAV
not come on this particular front at
all. Heavy German artillery fire be-
tween Rethel and Attigny suggests
the possibility of a German often
sive IN Champagne, which would
outflank the line of the Aisne and,
If 1t gained ground to the south
and developed strength on its left,
might threaten the Maginot Line
proper with development from the
west, though here the wooded
heights of the Meuse-Argonne (well
remembered by many an American
soldier) offer heavy going for ar
mored troops as well as infantry.
1t is also possible that the Ger
mans are assembling troops for
operations on a wholly new 'front.'
one in which they could be directly
supported by the Italians. Such a
German attack might come through
Switzerland (though the Germans
might hesitate to add the we'll
armed and sturdy Swiss Army to
their enemies) or 1t might come
across the Rhine north of the Swiss
frontier. Here it would, it is true,
run into strong French defense posi-
tions; but these might simultane-
ously be threatened by an Italian
push across the Alps. The fact is
that the French do not have enough
troops to meet all these threats
simultaneously, and unless they can
get more support from the British
than now seems possible, they are
going to find themselves In serious
difficulties for front-line units, not
to speak of reserves for counter at
tack purposes. These difficulties will
be less, of course, If Italy continues
non n-belligerent: but even so the
Italian frontier cannot be left un-
guarded
Question Is Aimed Air Power.
That this is recognized in Britain
is indicated by the reports of vigor-
GUS efforts to rearm and re-equip
the veteran divisions of the B. E. F..
rescued from Flanders and by the
conference reported between Gen.
Weygand and 1t. Gen. Pownall,
Viscount Gort's chief of staff. 1t is
to be especially noted that the
greater part of the German rear
areas in the Somme offensive are
within reach of R. A. F. planes
based in England. which have been
operating vigorously against Ger
man communications and columns
This Is of great Importance. An air
force thus securely based on the
flank of theater Of operations can
be serious threat to all movement
within that theater. The necessary
division of the Royal Air Force (by
far the larger of the two Allied air
forces between the western front
and the air defense Of Great Britain
was a source of weakness to the
Allies in resisting the first German
push: any situation in which the
planes in England can intervene
with telling effect is one to give the
Allied high command considerable
advantage. The only question is
whether the Allies have enough air
power, all told, to make the best
use Of this position. They do seem
to possess quite a little more free
dom of action in the air than a
month ago.
Gen. Weygands adaptation of
the well-known principles of the
'elastic defense" to the conditions
he now has to face appears so far
to be working very we'll. If he
proves that he has solved the prob
lem of mopping up the inflltrating
armored forces of the Germans,
there will begin to be a gleam OF
hope for the Allies; a hope whose
fulfillment would be sterilization of
the front. A definite check to
further German advances, a denial
of the German bid for quick VIC
tory-and time for the immense re-
sources of the Allies to be slowly
converted into fighting power, on
land and in the air.
We are very far from this point
as yet. We have no ground for
undue optimism as to Allied sue
cess. I can only repeat that Maxine
Weygand has shown himself in the
past to be one Of those great cap
tains of history to whom miracles
are possible. If he now has the
means, he may achieve another
miracle. If the means are lacking,
the genius of Weygand may be
able to do no more than the genius
of Napoleon on much the same
ground in 1914. But of the means
he has, we must add, Weygand
will make the best possible use.
If any man can save France, he
will do it.
(Copyrisht, 1910, by New York
Tribune, Incl