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Show ON THE BATTLE FRONT. Stopping the German drive is an encouraging sign of allied strength, but simply halting the enemy while he reforms and brings up his heavy I guns is not entirely reassuring, for, when Hindenburg is once more in position, posi-tion, he may repeat, If even on a smaller scale, that which he did in the fifty-mile front from Arras to LeFere. What Americans are hoping for is a counter attack before the Germans can dig in. Unless a counter offensive is undertaken soon, it will prove the allies have not the man-power and that they deem themselves fortunate to have held their lines intact. On the other hand, Hindenburg has his worries. If he has been punished to the extent reported in the dispatches dis-patches from the war zone, he will have great difficulty in organizing a second thrust along the new front from Lasslgny west to Montdidier. and north to Moreull and Albert. His losses are variously estimated from 300.0W to 500,000, or from 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the total force engaged. A strong French flank movement from Noyon and Lassigny north would bring to the German high command the most distressing days since the battle of the Marne. |