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Show JNOON EXPERTS CONFIDENT THAT FDCHWILL NOLO Situation Critical, but No Note of Despondency Is Sounded by Military Writers. MUST CONSERVE FIGHTING RESERVES French Commander Should Be Trusted Implicitly to Deal With the Germans. LONDON", May 30. The morning newspaper news-paper commentators express the view that the situation on the western front is serious, even critical, but there is no note of despondency in their reviews. The arrival of reserves, reported by the French press, is noted with satisfaction and hope, although it Is not known whether the reserves are sufficient in number to establish an approximate numerical nu-merical equilibrium of the opposing forces, whose proportions are generally stated to have been from four or five to one in the Germans' favor since the beginning be-ginning of the battle. Confidence is expressed that General Foch, the allied commander-in-chief, will make the best of the difficult situation, and it is urged that he should be trusted implicitly. In regard to the use of reserves, re-serves, however, it is remarked that General Gen-eral Foch may be handicapped by ignorance ignor-ance as to w-liere the Germans will strike next. 4 In this connection the Chronicle remarks re-marks that, owing to the geographical advantages the Germans possess, it Is possible for them to conceal to the very last moment the direction of their blows. General Foch must, therefore, hold reserves re-serves to meet either of several different contingencies. It may be anticipated, adds the Chronicle, that in his use of his reserves he will be severely economical, and that a certain amount of territory will be abandoned which a freer use of the reserves would save. "As it is possible to give ground on the Aisne front with less serious consequences than on the front toward Amiens." continues con-tinues the Chronicle, "it should not be JMurprising or unduly discountenanced if V that alternative were followed." i Must Conserve Reserves. A similar point is made by the critic pf the Daily News, who says that General Gen-eral Foch must postpone as long as pos-Hble pos-Hble any wholesale call on his reserves. "It is by no means certain," says the Daily News, "that the present offensive is the only, even the most menacing, attack at-tack in contemplation. We hear of heavy shelling around Amiens and of abnormal aircraft activity in Flanders. Immediate and important developments in both those sectors and others are practical possibilities, possibili-ties, and until it is known where the Germans Ger-mans will strike, the necessary counter-measures counter-measures cannot be taken." Discussing the outlook as the result of the German offensive on the Champagne battle front the military critic of the Daily Telegraph writes: "The present is a critical period for the fate of France and with France is bound up the fate of the entente. The British and French still have very valuable assets as-sets if thev know how best to use them. "We possess numerical superiority of soldiers, the ocean routes are at the disposal dis-posal of the allies, and all the world's wealth for the fetching. The allies possess pos-sess the means of concentrating more men. guns and airplanes in the decisive theater than the Germans. "It is unnecessary to repeat the cause which hitherto has nullified" these Inestimable Ines-timable advantages. It is high time our war cabinet and war office found out how to bring Ibis superiority of resources to bear upon the field of action. Master of Strategy Needed. "And administration of the highest order or-der is needed to turn the tide. The military mili-tary situation also demands a master of strategy and tactics to change the face of affairs ln France." The Times refers to the German offensive of-fensive as Increasingly formidable, and, after discussing the seriousness of the menace it points to the fine spirit in which the French are meeting the enemy's en-emy's blows. . , Alluding In the smashing by the Americans Ameri-cans of the German attacks west of Mont-dldler. Mont-dldler. the Times adds: L. "Ou- allies know the significance of Htthat as well as we do. So, too. do the lIRerman generals and the German states-IKien. states-IKien. It means that the last great factor I' TSbetrveen autocracy and freedom is com-uig com-uig into effective play on the battlefields. It means that they have but to hold (he gap a little longer before British comrades com-rades from across the ocean come in armies pledged never to sheath the sword until it has swept Prussian militarism from the earth and establlshd the reign of justice and peace. "There could be no reflection more heartening for the allies or more dismaying dismay-ing to their adversaries." |
