The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 1918.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4978, 19 September 1918, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 1918.

It is probable that most people re-

Why Pershing Pushed Ahead.

gard Aiperica’s offensive on the south-west border

of Germany as the most important feature of current Allied operations on the West Front. In one sense that is no doubt true; but in strict fact General Pershing’s drive is merely a big. diversion having for its object the assisting of the other Allied armies to break the Hindenburg line at other important points. ( General Foch, it Is clear, has no intention of making the American offensive his main offensive.

He is at present, most concerned about making headway chiefly in the Arras-St. Quentin sector and in the sector from Soissons to Rheims. As a sequel to the Americans’ activity he doubtless hopes to attract to that quarter as many of the Hun reserves as possible. It would seem that Hindenhurg and Ludendorff are very suspicious in respect of Foch’s strategy : hence their obstinate opposition to Haig’s efforts in tht\ vicinity of Cambrai and of those of Humbert on the west side of the Oise and of Mangin on the east side of that important waterway. The hardest problem which confronts the Allies is clearly that the operations between the Veslc and the Aisne must necessarily be cramped. In the course or a few days the Huns’ fate must be settled in that locality. Mangin’s difficulty, it would seem, has been the necessity to secure a considerable extension on his right to provide him with a wider front for bis operations, for greater of front will enable him to use more troops and consequently deliver his attack with greater, weight- The “Ladies’ Way” is only from 150 to , .‘IOO yards wide all the way along the crest and can be rendered untenable by artillery fire and gas.' It will be recalled that in May last the French on being attacked by overwhelming forces made no attempt hold the crest of the ridge and contented themselves with clinging to the southern slopes until they could make a safe retreat. But it must he borne in mind that the Hun drive on that occasion was along an extended line. The shaking of the Chemin des Dames line will naturally cause a reaction along the rest of the Front to a point far beyond Rheims. It is not possible to forecase what new operations will be undertaken to enable Mangin and -Humbert to gain their objectives. If the Americans find that they can push ahead between Verdun and Metz without undue strain that is ceidain to form portion of Foch’s plan. What is most likely, however, is that the British armies under Sir Douglas Haig will be called upon to renew their offensive but on a much bigger scale. Then the French armies under Mangin and Humbert will attack on a much wider front. The position on the West Front is most interesting, for the reason that Foch j maintains the initiative. Big hap- ; penings may be confidently antiei- j pated as soon as Foch is able to ■ operate freely all along the north ; side of the Aisne. What is believed by experts is that after the Chemin des Dames line is carried the Allied rush will carry our armies right on ; to Laon, which is such an import- < ant railway centre. The fyot that ; Pershing, who had been assisting > Mangin, was able to move such j a large section of his army over to the St. Mihiel, sector and begin a j new offensive is ample proof that the Allies are not now short of troops. Is it any wonder, then, that gloom prevails in the enemy countries, and j on the other hand, that the people j of the Allied nations await with the j utmost expectancy still greater a ic - - j tories before the present fighting j season comes to a close? j