The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-07-26
THE GERMANS
MAY LOSE
400, 900 Men in the Pocket in
Which They Are Caught.
Paris Sees
END OF THE WAR NEAR

| the fifth German offensive, which has
| been transformed through the genius
OF Foch into an allied offensive, finds
the allied armies in stronger posi-
tion and the Germans in worst
plight than at any other moment
since the war began.
"If the Germans can be beaten to
this extent before the Americans
have more than barely entered the
fight" is the sentiment of Paris this
morning what sort of licking shall
we be able to give them before the
end of October, when we shall have
million of Americans in line with
us and at least another million here
| and waiting their turn to butt in.
The strength of that argument lies
in the fact disclosed this morning
that more than 20 per cent. of the
allied troops engaged in the present
bottle are French. Yet this people,
whose military genius and sheer hard
fighting grit have gained the splen-
Aid victory, the development of which
the world is witnessing today, was
firmly believed by the German high
command 4 week ago no longer to
possess either commanders worth
considering or troops to fight under
them.
The position today is an eloquent
tribute alike to the low brain power
of the Prussian military class and the
inferiority of the boasted Intelligence
Service, which filled them with de-
lusions. The present battle more
than anything else that has occurred
in the war is convincing the world
that Germany deprived of overwhelm
ing superiority in burte force, is a
mere idol with feet of clay as the
French have always contended.
Prussian militarism when pitted
against the keen intelligence of the
French nation and on fairly level
term in men and guns has always
and will always prove that the Ger
man claim to be the first military ma.
tion in Europe, is nothing but gigan-
tic bluff. After four long years or
desperate resistance Foch has been
able to call the German bluff Hence
forth France will have no more fear
of Plussian militarism. but instead
a 5reater determination than ever to
destroy it.
The second battle of the Marne has
not only lifted deadly anxiety from
the heart of France but has con-
yerted what was formerly calm log
ical faith that sooner or later victory
was assured into positive conviction
that the end is now in sight.
The enemy will be able to congrat
ulate himself indeed if he is able to
eXtricate the whole of the 10000
men who are now struggling desper-
ately between the jaws of the French
pincers. Expert opinion here is OF
the belief that Ludenorff is now en-.
deayoring to establish at any rate a
temporary line of defense on the half
circle which runs from scissors
along the outskirts of Oulchy-le-
Chateau and south of Fere-en- Arden
toward the wooded western slopes of
the Montague de Rheims.
Topographically this line offers
, certain defensive advantages. Ii is
, marked by series of plataeauX III
the front of which are series of for
est-covered spurs and would certain
ly prove serious obstacle to con-
|, tinued allied advance.
The principal question is whether
disorganization of the retreating en-
emy has not gone too far to permit
a fresh stand being made so early III
the zone of retreat In any case it
is regarded as probable that Luden-
dorff will at least attempt a defense
on this line in which case Fere-en-
Tardenois will certainly becme the
centre of a new French offensive bat.
tie.
The fact that the Germans are
known to have begun to destroy theii
ammunition and supply depots at this
! important centre of communications
however, indicates that they recog
nize the hopelessness of being able
to make more than a temporary
stand there. Eeverything depends
however, on the degree of disorgani
zation the Germans have undergone
,e Conditions in the steadily narrow