Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-02
AMERICAN TROOPS
TO GET into FIGHT
Fronting the Enemy in Masses
Where Next Blow Is
to Fall.
NOTHING TO STOP THRUST
Believed Shock Forces Will Be
Used by Foch East of
Juvigny.
NOTHING TO STOP THRUST

WASHINGTON. September 1.-The
statement in General Pershing's official
communiquc, made public here to-day,
that our troops took Juvigny by as
sau!t, and the British steady advance
toward the Drocourt-Queant switch,
lifts the curtain. in the military mind
here. on the next great movement of
General Foch.
That American troops are to take
part in this intensive fighting seems to
be assured for the reason that 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 assaiIed was suf
iciently commented on by staff officers
TO indicate that there is nothing now
to stop the thrust of the Americans
under the direction of General Foch
and Pershing on roads near the Gobain
forest
That the most fatal blow that could
now be struck at the German deci-
on Juvigny and along a front OF six
miles is warranted by the morale of the
Germans opposite the American lines.
by the terrain to be traversed by the
Americans and by the relation of this
thrust to the Drocourt-Queants switch.
which is being menaced in force by
General Haig.
1t was pointed out to-day that Cen
eral Foch has, by perhaps a superior
knowledge of where the brunt OF the
battles would fall after the Germans
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
hghting advances perpendicular to the
hills and valleys. Foch has changed
all this. Some of his French forces.
however are stiil susta ing the double
resistance OF rcar-guard actions which
must be followed across valleys and
up hills. This is near the center of
salient, where General Haig is 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 pre-
vent the attack on the German extreme
left. but 1t looks to-day that IL the
work already done and that planned for
the near future Is successful. the ex-
treme German left will hove to march
tn the support OF certain attack ON
Strassburg.
VETERAN SHOCK TROOPS
IN MAJOR OPERATIONS
Two conditions point to the necessity
OF General Foch utilizing the Ameri-
can veteran shock troops, now in great
numbers. in major operation to the
east of Juvigny. These are:
/. That the British descent southeast
toward the Hindenburg switch demands
simultaneous movement of the troops
opposite the Goubain forest
>. That the British and American
thrust from day to day in their re-
spective lighting zones must be main
tanned In order to permit the French
torces midway between these points to
fight without the danger of flank
movement.
STAFF officers indicate that before
many hours the British will be Obliged
TO advance because OF the certainty
that the land on which tie new blow
TO be struck offers every advantage
for the impetuous rush along the pla-
teau of which Pershing officially in
Hicates to-day the Americans are
masters.