The Sun MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1918. FORCING THE PACE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1427, 9 September 1918, Page 4

The Sun MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1918. FORCING THE PACE.

Mangin's great drive on either side of the Ailelte practically destroys \ any chance the enemy possessed of settling down on the old Ilindenburg line—the springboard of the 1918 offensive. From the Oise northward the Germans are everywhere being forced back, but their failure to retard Mangin's progress between the Oise and the Aisne has undoubtedly jeopardised the stability of the Laon-La Fere-St. Quentin angle, a critical portion of (lie West front. The retreat before Haig, Humbert and Debcney is reasonably orderly. Strong rearguards hold up the advance while the main forces retire with their supplies and dumps in accordance with the German plan. But Mangin has upset calculations. Fighting over stiff country, his army has overcome a very stern resistance. Latest reports locate the French as behind the Aisne and approaching or already on the western flank of the Chemin-des-Dames. Further north the attackers are well into the Gobain forest, which forms a protection for both La Fere and Laon. Naturally enough, the struggle has become*, intensified as the thrust proceeded. There will be a supergun or two in the forest if the Germans have not removed them ere this. But super-guns are of small value compared with the southern bastions of the Ilindenburg line. La Fere is now under the fire of the Frent'h artillery, while the threat to the enemy dispositions in front of Laon is a very real one. Tf Mangin turns the Chemin-des-Dames ridge he will automatically turn the Cam-brai-St. Quentin-La Fere line;- that is, if the pressure can be maintained as at present on other sectors. The French have forced a crossing of the St. Quentin canal east of Ham. Tergnier, an important centre west of La Fere, is in their hands. And, as we have previously noted, Mangin is outflanking the Aisne. It is difficult to see how Ludendortf can ultimately avoid falling back towards the Meuse and the frontier. His chief worry is that he is not being permitted to retire according to his own schedule. From Messines to beyond Soissons he is being hammered incessantly, which means, of course, that he has no opportunity to set himself for a possible recoil, lb was different when Ilindenburg, after the first Somme offensive, cleverly slipped back across the blasted Picardy ridges. That was a neat manoeuvre. Ludendorff is not so fortunate. Since the retreat began, he has been kept under close observation and harried from pillar to post. In the vernacular of the ring, his opponent has him fighting a desperate defensive battle on the ropes, and is waiting an opening for a knock-out. It seems highly probable that the finishing-stroke will be administered if Ludendorff attempts to stand and retaliate with all his strength. Such a policy would cost him more reserves than he can spare just now. In any event, he never knows when and where Foch will lunge again. If the Germans are deeply compromised on the southwest angle of the front, Foch will probably launch an offensive on one of the weakened sectors. The enemy knows as well as we do that the Allied generalissimo still has several cards to play. Clemenceau's paper throws out a hint in that connection which suggests strongly thai Foch is only biding his time preparatory to launching another attack. It might take the form of a movement in the Champagne to outflank the Crown Prince from the cast. Gouraud's army, which did so splendidly in checking the enemy left wing last July, ought to be ready to' resume operations. Reinforced by strong bodies of American troops, Gouraud would he in a fine position to strike between Bheims and Suippes should the Crown Prince be pinned down or pushed back by the Franco-American forces. Compelled to relinquish the Douai-Cambrai-Laon line, Ludendorff would Jind no safely west of a front running close to and parallel with the frontier. II is believed that a second defence system lias been : established by the enemy from Lille; to Valenciennes, thence lo Man-i beuge, llirson, Mezieres and Ihej Meuse, linking up with the existing; front near Verdun. A retirement to I that line would liberate the greater part of French territory now in tier-; man occupation. If Lille is retaken by the Allies the German front may conceivably be swung back in western Belgium to the tloiland-Ghenl-Scheldt line, continuing via Valenciennes lo the Meuse. It is a i big step lo the frontier, but every day sees the Allies improving their position. They have six or eigtit j weeks in which to put the copingstone on tlie current campaign, and a lot can happen in that period.