El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-26

THE counter offensive Of the IoI0es w
the Marine front has had three results It has eIIe-
lively disposed Of the German offensive IN TINS area II
has thrown back the Germans out Of some OF ne AaIu
won positions and endangered their Big salent
Scissors and Reims down Chateau Therry on the aare
IT has shown the allies the ability Of American troops IN
big offensive action What happens from now on VIII ae
pend on the ability Of the French and Americans 70 oea
blows of increasing strength and that Of the enemy 10 meet
the assaults IF the allies able to push IN troops nl
artillery In greater strength than the GeInans can game
them TO resist this action may have extensive resul
decided breach IN the enemy line toward lhe ape U
the Chateau Thery triangle would nave
the effect Of crumpng the salient ana MAKE PosslOs
rer oDeration b the allies at Scissors and Relms pos
fbIv bsginp all the German forces which found lIse IN
bs TO escape This might be followed by another strong
effort to break through and flank the Wnoe German INT
from the North TO Switzerland ~ =.
That seems too much to hope for at this time 1t IS
reasonable not to expect really decisive action until suca
time as the allies gain numerical superiority OF men ana
munitions which they do not yet possess Inc aes are
gaining IN strength every Gay ana lne Geil +T
in man power but we have not been INFORMED mat ln
entente upward has yet crossed the DOWNWARD curve
Of the enemy. ,.
Naturally Gen Foch has not taken the public INTO his
confidence Of relating what he hopes TO effect IN this pas
sqe at arms That It VIII result in anything more than
breaking I'D the offensive plans Of the enemy and deliver
ing to the allies heavy bag Of prisoners and guns Is IN
probable It is not TOO much to hope, however tna I
hard blow VIII give quietus to the whole German plan OF
driving Paris and the channel ports the scheme OF oIIe
sve which constituted Germany desperate enoeaYoL %
knock out the French and British before American coopeTa-
ton could become overPoweung.
If 1t is not the part OF d1scTeJlon 10 expect IoO
much Of the counter drive Of the allies the Marne there
should be no disposition minimize the results obtained
or those which reasonably may be expected II the near
future
The French and Americans have blocked hard drive
and turned determined thrust into real defeat They
have taken many thousands Of prisoners hundreds Of guns
thousands Of machine guns and more than score OF vi
lges The towns, as-often before pointed out are WI
less except that the ground which they stand may afford
some advantage II carrying the battle The loss OF men
and guns Is real loss to the enemy and real gam 10 the
allies for Germany cannot afford to lose them.
Against the losses Of the enemy are those OF the ae
We do not know now nor is 1t likely shall know, Just
WHIT this counter offensive costing. From all accounts
the German defensive has been obstinate only IN places
Otherwise it has been comparatively weak Minor oppo-
sou means minor casualties. Stiff opposition usually Dut
not always heavy casualties There has been no
word I'D to now to indicate that the allies have paid heavily
for the advantages they have gained It IS lar assup
ton then that the losses Of the enemy are heavier than
those Of the allies
se of 1917 in the Cambria sector That attack made
AGAINST forces which were massed, either Tor offensive
OF defensive action This attack has been made and has
been successful against troops massed IN offensive mat
fact alone adds to the glory Of the allied achievement
One wonders how Gen Foch happened to be so entirely
ready for the renewed German drive along the Mane when
i was as likely that the thrust would come to the NORTH
aimed at Amiens Flanders, with the channel ports
as the goal correspondent at the front enghtens US On
German deserters Informed the allied command eAacy
where and when the blow coming so that Gen Focn
had time to assemble his forces to meet It.
As soon as he had stopped the enemy effort, reducing
TO local actions he counterattacked with his american
and French troops the former numbering some ZO0OVJ
men and started his winning drlve-
The way IN which the Americans met the German as
ssu before starting their counter offensive suggests what
nav turn ont to be settled fact Of American artillery
polc-1uc counter attacks before the lungng enemy can
the reeucy Of the Americans when attacked Nor has
any other c0mbatant force gone through long period