Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-06-14
SAVES
HIS RESERVES
WEST FRONT CHIEF SAYS THEY
SHOULD HAVE BUT ONE USE
THE KNOCKOUT BLOW.

London, June 13.-That battles
can be won in the end only by the
army which takes the offensive is the
significant declaration made by Cen
eral Foch. commander in chief Of
the allies. in an important article
contributed by him to the weekly
journal The Field. in which he dis
cusses the problem Of the soldier and
the way to victory.
"Modern warfare. to arrive at its
end and to impose its will on the
enemy" says General Foch. "recog-
nizes only one means-destructio
Of the enemy's organized forces.
"war undertakes and prepares this
destruction by battle, which brings
about the overthrow Of the adver-
sary. disorganizes his command, de-
stroys his discipline and nullihes his
units, as far as their fighting power
IL concerned
"Our first axiom must be that com
pletely to achieve its object. battle
must be purely offensive. A purely
defensive battle, even well conduct
ed. does not result in a victory II is
simply a game that must be begun
over again.
"From this it is an obvious corol-
larry that an offensive. whether start
ed at the beginning Of an action or
whether il follows the defensive. can
give results and in consequences
must always be adopted at the finish.
"To maintain our position is not
synonymous with being vistorious
and even prepares for a defeat. II
we remain where we are. and do not
pass to the offensive TO fix the d.
rection Of attack, TO guard against
the plans Of the enemy and prevent
him from carrying out the same man
euver. we must undertake to carry
on and sustain numerous combats.
each with determined aim.
"But since there remains no doubt
that defensive attack is the very key
stone Of a battle. all other actions
which make up battle must be en-
visaged, considered, organized, pro-
vided with forces in the measure in
which they will prepare, facilitate
and guarantee development Of a de-
cisive attack characterized by mass.
surprise. speed and for which in
consequence II is essential that there
shall be the maximum reserve pos
sible Of troops Of maneuver.
The Knockout Blow.
"The reserve, that is to say, the
prepared bludgeon. is organized and
kept carefully instructed TO execute
the single act Of battle from which
results are expected, namely, the de-
eisive attack.
Reserves must be husbanded with
the most extreme parimony so that
the bludgeon may be srtong enough
to make the blow as violent as pos
sible Let loose at the finish, without
any lurking idea Of saving them, with
well thought-out plan for winning
the battle at a point chosen and de-
termined, reserves are thrown in all
together in action surprising in
violence and energy all other phases
Of battle. an action with proper
characteristics, surprise, mass and
speed. All our forces really parti-
cipate, either by preparing il or by
carrying il out.
"ln this, our supreme arm, we
must not be deceived by appear
ance Although theory fails when
applied by feeble hands and when
accessories obscure the main prin-
ciple. history and reason show us
that in battle, there is single ar
gument which is worth while, name
~. decisive attack which is alone cap
able Of assuring the desired result
the overthrow Of the adversary"