The Washington herald., 1918-08-14
FOCH HAMMER
FORCES HUNS
TO TRY FEINT
Moves on Italian Front In.
dicate Near Activity in
That Quarter.

On the outcome OF lhc pIescAe u
tanic struggle in the Picardy region
depends whether or not the enemy
viii attempt to launch a new offensive
In Italy. In the belief Of certain mil
ltary observers here.
Recent dispatches emphasize the ac-
,tivity now in progress in the Aus
trian armies facing the Italians. Mass
formations Of fresh troops are under
way. and other 'earmarks' Of por-
tending action, including a visit to
the front by Emperor Karl, have IN
dicated an attack. Such an attack.
however. It Is believed here. would
be merely for distraction purposes;
but its possibilities cannot be denied.
For this reason II is suggested
that a continued advance on the part
of the Franco-British and American
forces between the Somme and the
sOise would prevent any action on
"A large scale along'the Italian front.
Military men, however, say the sit
suation should not be misunderstood.
-. Cannot Spare Troops.
EThey do not believe the German
high command would. or could, spare
any troops for an Italian offensive;
but they do think a feint in this
reZion-together with the actual mill
.tary possibilities It might contain
would slow up the present allied Of
jfensive and give Won Hutier a chance
10 regain his breath.
The magnitude Of the present Ger
man retreat. though. and the as
sumption that Foch's hammering
blows have reached the staccato
stage indicate also that the Austrian
activity resembles much the barking
dog. which puts up a bad appear
ehce. but nevertheless does not bite.
Dispatches to the French Embassy
yesterday give a good idea of the
supplies and material that already
have fallen into the hands of the
allies. Conscious OF the danger threat
ening his right wing Won Hutier.
It Is said. Is hastily eyacuating his
heavy artillery. his ammunition de-
pots, and in a general way all his
war material.
Immense spoiIs Of War.
; The newspaper Liberto. in de-
scrtoing the booty taken by the al
lies. says: =,
The roads which lead to the
Somme are encumbered with crowds
Of conveys. motor cars, artillery and
infantry columns, which the allied
avtators-incontestably masters OF
the air-are bombarding without in
termission- The cavalry, tanks and
<he auto machine guns are contin-
wing their bold incursion across the
enemy lines. increasing the disorder
among the Germans.
During the last twenty-four hours
several general staffs have been
captured. as we'll as automobile
parks, aviation aerodromes. ambu-
lances. whole trains and numerous
ammunition depots. which the enemy
in his flight abandonei intact"
Another instancsso of the work of
the allied afr squadrons. is given by
the report, which says cvery bridge
across the Somme frons Peronne tc
Ham has been destroyed by bombs
and that foot bridges, whose con-
struction was attempted by the
enemy, have met like fate.
Many Bombs.
At one time. said other dispatches
12O French aviators threw twenty
three tons OF projectiles upon Las
stgny, which at the time was full
OF conveys and troops. Tremendous
destruction was wrought by the at
tack Furthermore. the aiTmer
bombed railroad lines, blvouacs, and
the stations at Ham, Chauny. Roye-
which late reports indicated was in
the hands Of the British-and many
others.
Possibly at no time OF the war. II
was said here today. have allied
ayiators demonstrated their useful
ness to such an extent.