File:The Literary digest history of the world war, compiled from original and contemporary sources- American, British, French, German, and others (1919) (14777674064).jpg

Identifier: literarydigesthi05hals (find matches)
Title: The Literary digest history of the world war, compiled from original and contemporary sources: American, British, French, German, and others
Year: 1919 (1910s)
Authors: Halsey, Francis W. (Francis Whiting), 1851-1919, comp
Subjects: World War, 1914-1918
Publisher: New York, London, Funk & Wagnalls Company
Contributing Library: Columbia University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
heGermans complete^ overran the British lines. The Britishproblem w^as one of concentrating sufficient men to cheek theoffensive, but this was a task of giant proportions. It meantthat not less than three-quarters of a million men had to berushed to the front before the Germans could be opposed byequal numbers. There were obviously two methods by which this couldbe done: by drawing immediately upon what might betermed the strategic reserve, that is, an independent mobilearmy strictly not a part of the trench system: or, by draw-ing on local reserves in depots immediately behind the line.The latter reserve w^as in reality a part of the trench systemand it belonged to the units actually under fire. The methodwas an exceedingly dangerous one in that, by calling intoaction this reserve army all possibility of counter-effortwould have been given up, all opportunity of turning thetide of battle to advantage abandoned. It had only quick-ness to recommend it. The British adopted the second 28
Text Appearing After Image:
29 ON THE WESTERN FRONT method, which was the usual way, and was much more con-servative, and much safer. The wisdom of the British de-cision was shown in the fighting on the fifth and sixthdays, when the Germans were perceptibly slowing up. It was estimated that in the attacks delivered in massformation more than 400,000 out of nearly a million Ger-mans were dead, wounded, or in the hands of their foes.The hills, plains, and valleys of Picardy were red withGerman blood. About twenty-five miles represented thepoint of greatest penetration made at any one place. Itwas thought not improbable that British and French re-serves, and possibly American troops now known to hav«been assembled behind the battle-front, would soon bethrown against the weakened enemy. The Germans con-tinued their onslaught southwestward against French de-fenses in the region of Rove and Noyon, having sloweddown in their attempt to cut through the British line furthernorth, where desperate resistance had been offe

Note About Images