The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-02
AMERICAN TROOPS
N THICK Of FRAY
WITH THE BRITISH
Nothing to Stop Thrust
on Road Near Gobain
Forest.
ON TO STRASSBURC
Yankee Shock Troops in
Great Numbers in
Operation East of
Juvigny.
IN TO STRASSBURC

Washington. Sept. THE state
ncnt in General Pershing's Official
communique made public here to-
day that "our troops took Juvtgny
by assault" and the British steady
advance towards the Drocourt.
Queant switch lift the curtain. in
the military mind here ON the
next great movement OF General
EOch- .
That American troops are to
take part in this Intensive hghfs
tnE seems 10 be assured. for the
reason tiaat they are fronting the
enemy IN masses. where the next
blow Of strategic importance Is to
fall. The place, or rather area.
OF the lines to be assailed were
sufficiently commented on by stan
officers TO indicate that there IL
nothing now to stop the thrust of
the Americans. under the direc-
tton Of Generals Foch and Per-
khing on roads near the Gobain
forest.
That the most fatal blow that could
now be struck at the German deci-
mated and fugitive armies will be
hased on Iuvisry and along front OF
say six miles. is warranted by the
morale OF the Germans opposite the
American lines, by the terrain to be
tfaversed by the Americans and by
court-Queant Switch, which is being
menaced in force by General Haig
Foch's Superior knowledge.
1t is pointed out today that General
Foch has. by perhaps a superior
knowledge OF where the hrunt of the
battles would fall after the Germans
1Su ~ AMks
the French and the Americans at last
|on the line OF least resistance so far
as the ground to be covered is con-
|cerned
The strategy Of the Germans was
to keep the Americans and French
fighting advances perpendicular to the
hills and valleys, Foch has changed
all this. Some OF his French forces.
however. are still sustaining the
double resistance Of rear guard ac-
|tions which must be followed across
valleys and mp hills. This is near the
center Of the long line from Rheims
to the Lys salient, where General
HaiR II now pressing forward toward
|Drocourt-Queant. OF course. in the
areas closest to the Swiss border,
there are hills and mountains which
for the present prevent the attack on
the German extreme left. but II looks
today that II the work already done
and that planned for the near future
II successful. the extreme German
left will have to march to the supper,
Of the certain attack on Strassburg.
American Shock Troops~
TWO conditions point to the neces.
| stty Of General Foch utilizing ths
American veteran shock troops now
| In great numbers In . major opera.
ton to the east OF Juvugny. These
are:
| i. That the British descent south
east toward the Hindenburg Switch
demands simultaneous movement o.
the troops opposite the Gobain for
tes&.
| :. That the British and American
Thrust from day to day In their respec
tive fighting zones must be main
tanned In order to permit the French
forces midway between these point
to fight without the danger Of flanl
movement.
stan oiicers indicate that befor,
many hours the British will b.
lobliged to advance because Of tn
Icertainty that the land on which tn
lnew blow ID to be struck offers ever,
advantage for the impetuous rusl
Ialong the Plateau Of which Pershin
Iof1cially indicates today the Ameri
leans are masters-