The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-08-22
By Frank II. Simonds.

pJ ldHh IL OluhSHu''
NEW YORK, Aug. 22--ln the latest
thrust OF the British Third army Of
General Byng, and in the most recent
operation OF the Tenth French army
under General Mangin, there seems to
he indicated fairly clearly an interest
ing offensive method which contrasts
,trlklngly with that employed by the
Germans In another great offensive OF
this year the Germans have followed
the plan OF other years, attacking on
a very wide front after an enormous
preparation and having exhausted their
resources IN the attack, spent long
time in preparation for another attack.
We had thus an attack on March p,
extended TO Flanders on April 9, and
terminated only on April %. II was not
until MAY y that the Germans again
attacked this time at the Aisne
\ brict effort m June along the Disc
was followed by another pause last
my until the fifteenth of July, These
pauscs were perhaps fatal to German
offensive plan, because IN each instance
they gave the enemy, defeated by the
first heavy blow, time to recover, and
II gave American reserves time to ar
rive.
Foch Keeps Striking.
Now Forh seems TO be striking a Sc
rics OF rapid blows by comparison with
the German efforts small relying upon
a local effect produced, now near Ar
ras. now near the Disc, now between
the Osc and the Sommc, 10 produce in
the aggregate a general diSlocation of
the German positions In each OF these
blows he uses comparatively few men
and the victorious troops are ready for
a thrust after a short interval The
German gets no rest, no time to rcor-
gaui,c or regroup his forces, the flows
which are raiuci upon him are none OF
them knockout blows. but each of them
adds to his confusion and lnthctS Sc
riou, local injuries.
New Drive Important.
As 10 the latest British blow now 60
ing forward between Arras and the
Ancrc. it IS plain that II 1t continues for
any distance 1t will uncover the flank
OF all the Germans south OF the Ancre
and between Bapaumc and the Somme
II is in effect a turning movement de
signed to compel the Germans TO rctlrc
out OF those positions north of the
Sommc river which they have held ever
since the attack Of August s and have
used for their anchorage south Of the
Sommc In this sense II is the last
STAGE IN the series of the blows intend
ed TO compel the Germans to go back
to the Hlndcnburg line before they can
settle down after their original defeats
m picardy and ON the Maruc.
Good Tank Terrain.
The ground between the Ancrc and
Arras has been selected for the attack
because it is best suited for the ma
neuyer of the small tanks, so impor
tant in the present infantry movement
| Up to the present moment the British
advance has not been very considerall lie
but its effect must already have mad
itself felt south OF the Ancrc and /
may he the final straw that breaks tn
back Of German resistance west of TN
line OF Arras, Eapaume, Pcronnc an,
! Noyon
Turning now to the operation Of Man
pin, which has already resulted IN tn
capture Of 10000 prisoners and TN
clearing Of most Of the country between
the Aisne and the Oise there is this (,
be said There are two historic path
! ways to Paris for the invader; on