The sun., 1918-08-07
MANGIN TELLS HOW
FOCH WON VICTORY


De Goutte were ordered by Gen. Foch
TO launch counter attack. II succeeded
no well that on the evening OF the SEQ
ond day there we're signs that the enemy
had plans under consideration for re-
crossing the Marine. That was the first
big result of the counter offensive.
The enemy was taken completely by
surprise. first, because he didn't believe
an attack was coming. and. secondly.
because 1t was launched without artil
lery preparation. In storm which
came at the right moment large num-
her OF tanks were concentrated opposite
the German lines without a sound. The
Germans heard nothing, although the
forest opposite them was teeming with
allied soldiers. guns. ammunition and
supplies.
When day broke all the allied guns
were In position. and they broke upon
the enemy in a fury OF fire. In the whole
war there was nothing more dramatic
than the scene looked down upon by the
French commanders. with the French
tanks followed by infantry, pressing
upon the heels of the routed Germans
and in the distance the shells Of the al
lied artillery dropping into their disor-
ganized ranks.
Tremendously Hard Fighting.
On the first day the left wing of Man
gins army, ~ one bound, reached the
east side OF the plateau command
Scissors. The right wing didn't get so
FAR, but reached a point Just short OF the
Chateau Thierry road. Then for some
days tie army made little advance ex-
cept on the lower part OF the front. The
right wing swept around until on the
2sth Il was facing north instead OF east
On the 29th there was tremendously hard
fighting along the whole front, the Ger
mans resisting with the greatest tenacity.
But they were driven back slowly. step
by step. except at one point south east
OF Hartennes Taux.
II was here on the heights north Of
Grand Rozoy that Gen. Mang.n. after .
pause lasting two days in which he
gathered strength, struck second great
tlow. This blow greatly accelerated the
offensive and brought the Allies into po-
sition on the heights surrounding Sos-
sons. from where they were able to
hurry the German retreat until II as
sumed precipitate stage.
II was here that Gen. Mangin came
into possession OF the key position to the
whole battlefield, realizing which the
Germans began the last phase OF the
retreat which carried them across the
Vesle.
Expected July Fourth Attack.
Although the German commanders re-
fused TO believe there would be an
allied offensive, they did believe there
would he some sort o. an attack against
them on July and again on July "A.
these being the national fete days Of
the United States and France They
believed the Allies would attempt an
attack as one form OF celebrating their
national birthdays.
total OF eighty-seven German divi-
sioHs G.Os7,500 nnen) were used In the
battles. ten OF which had to b. Dor
rowed from Crown Prince Rurprerht to
strengthen the German Crown Princes
hand. The number opposing Gen Man
gin alone was twenty-elght divisions
(350, 900 mem. The German losses were
very heavy. In the first few days of
their March offensive their losses were
light. but from June 3 onward wher
the fighting became more stubborn. their
losses largely increased. The class o,
1919 was used to make up the losses in
effectiveness up to May 81, and after
that the men who had been wounded
in March began to get back into the
lines.
The Aisne retirement was due to a
shortage of electives. it being abso.
lutely necessary for the Crown Prince
TO gain time 10 repair his shattered di,
visions The Crown Prince Rupprech
has not been altogether free from anx-
ety. and aS for H,rdenburg and
Ludendort the initiative has passed out
OF their hands entirely.