THE MARNE SALIENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 July 1918, Page 6

THE MARNE SALIENT.

Tie difficulties of the German forces in the salient between Sodssons and Rheims are increasing. Allied pressure on both flanks continues, es. pecially on the western side, where the advance has now reached a maximnm of eight miles and a half. Only 3>y sacrificing forces freely is the enemy able to maintain his positions and even the payment of a high price has not enabled him to hold the head of the salient as the base has been pinched in. First came the j|£tirement over the Marne and now the~recapture of Chateau Thierry and country to the north is announced, indicating that the Germans are relaxing their hold of the northern bank of the river. In a smaller way the German excursion over the Marne appears to have been as disastrous as the Austrian passage of the Piave. It is certain that both the advance and the retreat were very costly operations, and that the movement entirely failed in its object. The semi-official German explanation that this was a diversion is obviously lacking in candour. It was an advance which appeared to he perilous, but it doubtless depended on a German success east or w r est of Rheims to cover it and to open the way for a general movement to the southward. When the German offensive failed it left the troops on the south bank of the Marne in an exposed position of no present value. The withdrawal and the French counteroffensive have combined to prepare a rather difficult problem for the German general staff. Retirement from the salient, which not only brought the enemy nearer Paris but nearer the large-scale battle he bas been attempting to precipitate, must be a bitter pill, and will produce an uncomfortable reaction in Germany. Yet the only alternative is maintaining a posi- i tion which is militarily unsound and -will become precarious unless the French advance can be stopped. The German staff appears to he ruled for the moment by the military necessity rather than the politically expedient, and is yielding considerable ground at the head of the salient while offering a stout resistance towards the base. There is no evidence so far that the German retirement is either precipitate or uncontrolled, but there is still a possibility that the French may he able to burst in one side of the triangle and cut off the forces which are fighting towards the apex] |