Evening star., 1918-07-29
|0PT|M|SM HERE
| OVER WAR NEWS
Believed Gen. Foch Has His
Greatest Surprise Yet
to Spring.

W oks uSYs
Military and other government Off
cia1s today view with great optimism
the news flashed across the wires Of
continued allied successes in the
Aisne-Marne salient
There II some speculation as to Just
what trump card Generalissimo Foch
holds up his sleeve. and just how
and when he is going to play it The
success OF the recent counter offensive
has convinced observers here that the
allies will not now relinquish the
initiative. but that the plan from now
on win be to keep the German high
command guessing n to the next
move
See Greatest Surprise.
The opinion finds support in numer-
ous quarters that Gen. Foch has yet
enemy. waiting for the psychological
moment. a time when the morale Of the
central powers Is at ebb tide by dint
of tho FfEnco-American successes IN
the A16De-M2fne salient
II is believed that as soon as the
Franco-American line is Strengthened
out in the Marne valley-snd this. it
appears. viii be quickly eencted at the
present rate OF the German retreat
north Of the Marne beyond the OurcQ to
the Vesie and the corresponding ad-
vance Of French and American troops
over soil hitherto held by the enemy
Gen. Foch will temporarily abandon an
offensive on the present extensive scale.
While not relinquishing the fnitia-
tive or pursuing a passive or de-
fenstye policy, as formerly, observers
are Of opinion that the generals
sporadic attacks on large proper
tions than patrols until the coming
autumn or possibly spring.
By that time the hoehe will have
gone through the enervating expert
ence of another winter in the trenches
ishment Meanwhile fresh and well
equipped American troops from over
seas will have augmented the allied
reserve force to a degree sufficient to
warrant a real offensive-an allied
offensive such as been talked OF for
tho past two years.
May Wait on America.
Observers here believe that while
launch an offensive Of broader lines
than any hitherto attempted by the
allies, he Is going to play a safety
first" game by waiting for more trained
are weekly setting foot on French soil
to join their comrades who have pre-
ceded them. The War Department has
now abandoned the policy Of sending
unframed troops to France. there to
receive their training. Those to be
EidA
from now on will not be raw and un-
seasoned troops, but Will have received
their preliminary training in American
camps and contonments. as was the
Americas entry into the war.
This means that with the initiative
In Foch's hand8. with the German
morale depressed by loss Of men.
shortage of food and supplies. the raw
ages tof another winters campaign.
fodder. from America. the allied
chieftsin will be able. with a greatly
superior force. At least to force a
gradually weakening foe to como to
terms not made in Germany
See Turning Point Now.
Government oficials declare the out
look to be brighter than at any period
Of the war; The turning point has
poGu Su1Cao0s lfey 6vSEs 1no HO" uOW
ON the Hun. as far ~ military sue
ceeses 80. Fin Be ON the down grade.
Omcials &re frm in the conviction
that every stipulation Of President
Wilson's pronunciamento and the
later one Of Lloyd George must be
achieved. and that any agreement
with Germany on other terms will be
futile and will render profitless the
energy. wealth and human lives that
have been lavished for the past five
years that the kaiser might realize
the value of q scrap Of paper and to
give little Belgium Justice.
Now, officials declare, the allies can
see in the near future the achieve
ment Of each Of these war aims. For
this reason. they declare. any peace
proffers emanating from the central
powers must be scorned until the
work which the allies have COM
menced is pushed forward to the con-
summation of terms based upon JUS
tice and equity.
The successes Of the past two weeks
observers here believe. are merely m
indication Of successes yet to come
which viii mako the present allied
gain along he Marne front pale fntc
IN Sn~l~iAranrA