THE GERMAN EFFORT

Although the enemy had proclaimed to the world his intention of breaking through the Franco-british line, and had even ostentatiously fixed the date for war correspondents to be present at the opening of their grand assault, yet the reasons for postponing the great effort were so evident and so urgent in German interests that we were inclined to believe a gigantic game of bluff was being played to keep the Allies hypnotised until German plans were ripe.

The British Commander-in-chief, nevertheless, penetrated the enemy’s real design and was prepared for the thrust. Although subsidiary attacks have been tried at a number of points – the Belgian sector, Rheims, Champagne, and Verdun – yet the principal weight of German onslaught has fallen on the British right between the River Scarpe and the River Oise, in the neighbourhood of St. Quentin. Thus the recently disputed battlefield of Cambrai once again finds itself the focus of an intense struggle.

Not the faintest doubt exists in the British ranks as to the ability of our troops fighting on the defensive to check and repulse the arrogant foe with sanguinary loss. Our troops also realise from their own experience that no vigilance on our part probably can prevent an attack made suddenly with overwhelming strength from gaining some ground, but the test of victory in offensive battles for the possession of a fortified zone consists in this – Can a passage be cleared wide enough for the penetration of the attacking columns into the comparatively open country behind our lines or not?

If the Germans fail to capture such a breach, then they have failed in their object and strategically they are defeated. In any case, their losses will be very severe indeed. Their leaders are skilful, but their infantry as a rule lacks the dash and elasticity of British and French soldiers in assault. The Germans fight far better in defensive than in offensive warfare, whereas our infantry is equally formidable in both.