But though we incline to the view that the Germans
have begun the great attack we are well aware that there arc certain considerations to be pleaded on the other side. For example, the Germans know, by their own experience and by ours, how useless it is to make even a very big hole in your enemy's lines. When you have accomplished the task you dare not go through for fear of being outflanked. Therefore it seems not unlikely that when the Gorman attack does come it will be " one and all together "—a general movement from the shores of the Channel to the Swiss frontier. But of such a general movement, it is said, there is no sign. Therefore it may bo urged that the Crown Prince is merely making a local thrust because ho secs an opportunity of beating the French, and because such a local thrust may hit the French so hard that it will disarrange all the plans of the Allies. Again, it may be urged that the Germans know that the condition of the ground is so bad that for the time the attacker, instead of gaining an advantage, will be seriously handicapped by taking upon his shoulders the onus of advance. Against this it may be urged that, as a matter of fact, there are already signs that the thrust is not local. There has been groat German activity at Ypres, at Givenchy, at Fromezy, and at Ban do Sapt, in the extreme south.
