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Show DIFFICULT TASK IS GIVEN YANKEE TROOPS IN LAST ' PHASE OF WORLD WAR Important Sector of Line in Hands of Men of Pershing to Deal Smashing Blow to German Army's Supply Base. (BY NEW YORK TIMES MILITARY EXPERT.) Special to The Tribune. EW YORK, Nov. 9. In the ast N phase of the war the troops of America wore given the honor of first holding: the most Important section of the line and of being poised for the blow which' was to eliminate elimi-nate Germany as a military opponent. Theirs was to be the main offensive' of the war, the offensive which, If successful, success-ful, was to cut a large part of the German Ger-man army from its home bases, choke off the flow of its supplies, and bottle it up in the hilly Ardennes. No army has been assigned a. more difficult task. No army has performed a difficult task more brilliantly. Fighting their way, almost foot by foot after the first rush, the Argonne was cleared and the gieat pass at Grand Pre was taken. Trusting to the Meuse to guard Its right flank, and paying attention atten-tion to nothing but the German force immediately ahead, this First American army gradually worked its way northward north-ward until the Mctz-Lille road was under the l'ire of Its gums. Austria Withdraws at Critical Time. At this point Austria withdrew from the war, the Austrian divisions which had been sent to this section as a reinforcement rein-forcement were withdrawn and the German Ger-man line broke. It was the reward of consistent unremitted pressure which, when the Austrian divisions were taken away, left the Germans powerless for the moment to continue the defense. The American commander's troops went forward, for-ward, approaching' nearer and nearer to the vital, railway. Spasmodic efforts were made to stop the advance, but the pursuit was too active. The Germans were driven behind the Meuse and Sedan was taken. In the meantime the French, operating west of the American forces, gave the most brilliant example of co-opcratlon that history records. Held back for a time at the able defenses of the Olse-Serre Olse-Serre angle, they finally wore these defenses de-fenses down until the Germans were thrust into the open. This automatically ended the defense of the Alsne att Rethel. The Aisne line was outflanked from both sides and the Germans were forced to fall back. . Immediately tho French struck hard against the retreating Germans Ger-mans and a real retreat began. It was not merely a question of falling back to other positions. JL was a full retreat all along the line from the pise to the Meuse. The lino of the Serre vas completely com-pletely cleared, the French pushing rapidly rap-idly through the rough, hilly country north and northeast of Slssonne. All opposition seemed, to have gone, the Germans not malting any effort to stem the advance. Between Hlrson and Me-zl?pes, Me-zl?pes, two Very Important points on the Metz-Ulle road, they arc steadily approaching ap-proaching the railroad throughout. There is no further reason for the Germans to try to defend it. It is cut at Aulnoys in the north and Sedan in the southeast, so that the remaining stretch is of but little value. The value of Mczieres lies in the fact that here one of the main branches which penetrate theArdennes comes in. But for practical purposes as a means of supply this road has for the Germans coased to exist. The railroads are essential in any scheme of transportation and such a road as this Train stem is would not have been given up without a struggle if it could be avoided. The Germans falling back behind be-hind the Meuse will, it is true, place between be-tween themselves and the French a serious se-rious barrier. May Halt Advance Along the Meuse. It wlii undoubtedly check the advance at this line. But the check cannot be other than temporary, as there are no means of supplying a military force along the liver on this front and it will mean that a still further retreat through the Ardennes country will havo to be taken. The British In the meanwhile have not been idle, southeast of Valenciennes they have pushed beyond the forest of Mormal and have brought this large forest within with-in their lines. They have crossed the Stheldt north of Valenciennes, pushed their lines well to the east along the line of the Conde-Mons canal and are approaching ap-proaching Maubeuge. , South of the Mormal forest they have (Continued on Pago Four.) sinking ship. Germany stands alone, literally lit-erally without a friend in the world among nations. The reactions against Germany In Austria have shown that, with the exception of the Teutonic elements in the Austrian population, she is as much hated there as anywhere tn the world. Germany must yield' soon, whether today or tomorrow, none can say. Just what is going on within Germany is difficult to say. Reports of a revolution revolu-tion are rife. The fleet Is said to have been seized by revolutionists and to have left Kiel Whether it is true or whether this treacherous government, foreseeing that, under the terms of the armistice, she will be compelled to turn the fleet over, have taken this means of retaining retain-ing It, is unknown, . The latter, however, Is a possibility. The ancient feeling of Bavaria against Prussia is again cropping out and lhe ambitions am-bitions of the south Germans to see a Bavarian prince upon the throne are again being pushed. But with all of this Germany can still hang on for a time. No one knews what the terms of armistice armis-tice are, but it is rate to assume that they are as severe, if not more so, as the terms granted to Austria. The true facts will appear within the next few days what Germany's intentions are. Difficult task giweh to wee troops (Continued from Fag? One.) crosstd tho Snm'brc, so that they are within a few miles of Aveynes. ISvery-whyre ISvery-whyre the German rrslstai.ee has given away until . Franco Is almost entirely cleared of German t roops. Belgium is still i:i German hand! and the Germans still clinging to their lines west of Ghent, During the week the Versailles conference confer-ence has perfected the terms of the arni-Istice arni-Istice to Germany and v. this writing the Gt-rman delegates are discussing the terms with the allied coinrriander. Possibly before this can appear in print the Cermans may see fit to accept tho terms of the armistice and the war may be over. Bit whether they accept or re-Juct re-Juct them the end Is plainly In sight, One. by ore the rats have forsaken the |
