Show i I I I HE SALT LAKE TELEGRAM M PERO PERilOUS PERilOUS' P POCKETS L T Di DISLOCATE TP PLAN P OF OFF FOE E HEAD E D Fall of La Fere Would Mean Abandonment of Whole Enemy Line By J. J W W. T. T Mason United Press Preas War Expert NI W YOI YORK K Sept 9 Von D.-Von Ton Hindenburg Hindenburg Hinden Hinden- burg has partly straightened the salient salient sali saU- ent In his front west of ot St St. Quentin and Marshal Foch is now eng engaged ged in fn digging the pocket deeper than It was before by driving against La Fere fifteen fifteen teen miles south of ot St St. Quentin If It La Fere falls to the allies a threat to encircle St. St Quentin from the south will begin to develop This will necessitate a resumption of Von Vori Hindenburg's retreat from the Somme all the way back to St. St Quentin and eventually beyond Only a decision by the Germans to give Ive up the entire length of ot the Hindenburg line Une can Justify their re retirement retirement retirement re- re beyond La Fere It is here that the Hindenburg line begins to tomake tomake tomake make its swing to the east La Fere is a powerful fortress of ot the second class constructed by the French as one of ot a series for the o outermost defense of Paris LA FERE IS PIVOT It has served the Germans admirably ad- ad as a pivot for the Hindenburg Hindenburg Hinden Hinden- burg line Une No other position so well fitted to withstand the shock of at a e turning point In the front exists be between between between be- be tween La Fere and the Belgian fron fron- tier If It the Germans Germans Intended to keep to the p present formation of at their west front they wo would would would-be ld be pe compelled compelled compelled com com- to cling to La Fere with the I utmost tenacity Instead of ot this they are reported to be setting fire to the fortress and destroying stores as if the occupancy were not to be permanent perma perma- nent When Marshal Foch is In hi possession possession posses posses- sion slon of ot La Fere not only the German line to the northward but but- also the new German positions along the Aisne will begin to fall tall into dangerous dangerous' wedge formations This means that a new retirement before the American pressure north of ot the Vesle will wUl be bt enforced upon Von Hindenburg If he Is to insure himself against double attacks from the flank and rear simultaneously with American frontal attacks Marshal Foch is proving extraordinarily extraordinarily extraordinarily successful in keeping his sali sall- sallent salient ent developments of the German front These perilous pockets are do doIng doing doing do- do ing more to disarrange the Uie the details of Von Hindenburg's retirement than any other single factor in the campaign Of all the pockets that have been created since the pres present nt series of ot drives began the most menacing to the Germans will result if it Von Hindenburg Hin Hindenburg denburg does not retire north and south of ot La Fere after that position is taken by Marshal Foch |