Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-24
MEMBER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday. July "a, 1918.
The Last Marine Drive

blow Many careful followers of
.v.r,s seem 20 feel that il SCISSORS
had been taken at the outset allied
chances Of success would have been
largely improved We do not agree
with them-and they may be right
because IL has seemed TO us since last !
Saturday that the Franco Americans
could have taken scissors at any |
time had its possession been worth |
the cost in men, munitions and time. |
Our artillery dominates the town. bat
chief interest lies in pushing south
east toward Rheims rather than
northeast along the Aisne. In the
latter course the allied left would be
exposed to flank attack not unlike
that against which the German crown
princes forces are now struggling.
Cen. Foch has led Ludendorff into
a dangerous gamble. obviously on the
strength OF the conviction that the
allied forces are not as strong as Of
fered for world consumption. Luden
dorff, who has long been known as
the brains Of the Hindenburg sue
cesses. evidently believed his own
claims of contempt for American
war effectiveness, and also that the
French and British were largely
bluning.
For four months Gen. Foch has
been permitting Ludendorff to con-
vince himself that the allies we're
only strong enough to desperately
hold. and that q final all-powerful
plunge would drive through to Paris.
He drove" until his guns could be
heard In Paris. while the allied lines
held all around the Rheims gatepost
and Also to the west and south Of the
soissons eatepost,
II seemed a chance for the German
command 10 take that savored Of
desperation. The deep pocket was
purchased at AWFUL cost, while every
attemp. at Rheims was stopped deal
In It's tracks. There the allied line
was unbending And then, on Bas-
tile day, the Germans began artillery
preparation for the new drive across
the Marine
On July Is Gen. Foch turned the
counter-attack upon the German
right flank from Scissors southwark.
Since that hour We have seen the
bluff" that Ludendorft challenged
making good Just how we'll 1t is
succeeding may best be guessed from
the recorded facts on Monday that
tho retreating Huns were destroying
their own supplies.
The allies dominate the railroads
down into the horseshoe and are not
only slowly but surely cutting of
escape but have already cut off most
~ the sources Of transportation in
and out Of the salient. The disor-
derby retreat that embraces destruc-
tion Of towns AM supplies not only
admits disastrous defeat but savors
of increasing panic.
Lies TO the boschcs concerning the
'~Soakness" OF allied forces and
Americans In particular. are now re-
cotlins with disastrous effect. In
rony instances the Huns show abject
terror on Arst sight Of charging
Americans. The psychology OF tho
hour is largely provided by the mys-
terry Of American strength and theiI
reputed inhuman practices in battle
Reports Of the irresistible dash ant
unexpected performances Of the
Americans have spread behind tn,
Hun lines. The attack in the mids
Of terrific electrical storm is az
example quoted. Another is of tn,
midnight exploit at the river Saw
eres The Americans, reaching tn,
river in the night and impatient a
DELAY refused to wait for pontoons
They plunged in. swan the river
crept up the wooded slope and fel
upon the unsuspecting bosches Xix,
an avalanche. The Germans, takey
completely by surprise and surround
ed in hundreds. surrendered er
masse. Their guns were turned upo,
the German positions and almost s
panic ensued.
The fame OF these exploits travel,
far in the ranks. with additions O
horrible detail and inhuman cruelt,
IN revenge for Hun outrages.
Gen. Foeh long awaited his oppor
tunity. contenting himself mean
while by exacting a terrible price 70
land rehnauished to the Huns. An,
We should remember that this Il, M
the allied offensive that is to com
when Uncle Sam has added a it,,
more weight and hardened up n
muscle bit. 1t ID only" a counter
attack to teach thS Hun lesson ,
- -. .n.- ~.....,