The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-31
Gti. f0Ca'$ STBRTfeY.
MAY BE MAKING READY FOR I'M
PONTANT BATTLE.
Behind Apparent Lull i'm Struggle
Around Aisne- Marnc Salient Stage
May be. Set for Hard Test oil
Strength.

Strength.
Washington, July 26.-Behind the
apparent lull in the struggle around
The Aisne- Marine salient today, the
high command of the Allied and Ger
IMAM armies may be setting stage for
the decisive battle of the war in
hat event it seems more than likely
TO observers here that the fourth an
nlversary of the beginning of the
world conflict will see a flame of fight
ing raging from east of Rheims to
tho North Sea-; but with the crucial
conflict in progress somewhere just
north of the historic Marine where the
,iermans have twice tasted the bitter
ness of defeat.
( There is nothing as yet in unofficial
reports, however, nor in official ad-
vices SO far as known, to show the
plan of General Foch. Flickers of
lighting have occurred to the north
lthat may have more than local signifi-
canoe behind them. There is some
evidence of feeling here that the
time has not yet come when a sulfi-
,cient army has been assembled in
Trance to warrant passing definitely
to offensive tactics. 1t was recalled
today that General March recently in
dicated to members of congress that
this was not to be expected until later
in the year. The situation has chang
ed greatly at the front since then,
however, and only developments there
will show what decision has been
made. IS
Officers here have watched the bat
lie of the last eight days closely for
its wider significance. At first it ap-
,peared that the fierce counterattack
launched by General Foch on the wes-
tern side of the Aisne- Marine salient
was intended only to offset the Ger
man effort to encircle Rheims and
further exploit the menace toward
Paris. AS success followed success for
he Franco-American troops. however
and as first the Italians and then the
british joined in the struggle, the
nature of the operation changed. 1t
vas clear that the tables had been
turned on the enemy and that the nut
cracker tactics he had attempted to
apply to Rheims were in turn being
applied to his armies within the sa-
lent.
The enemy was quick to realize his
danger. Behind stubborn rear guard
he drew back across the Marine and
to-day he was apparently still strug-
Cling northward out of the depth CT
:he pocket in which he had been
caught To save his advance forces
hav t0
hold apart the jaws of the great trap
until the armies of the crown prince
could escape.
Yesterday, the advance of the Brit
:sh northwestward from the region of
"heims aroused hope among officials
here that the allied forces might be
,ble to spring the trap. The lull today
however, seemed to indicate that Gen.
cral Foch was not prepared at this
lime to press his advantage to his
full power in that direction. The
pocket is not as yet sufficiently mar
rowed at the top to prevent withdraw
al OF the German armies falling back
from the Marne, many ofiicers believe.
That the main pressure of the allied
troops today was rather against the
blunt apex than against the extended
sides of the salient, was taken as an
indication that the supreme COM
ander was bent more on forcing mis-
opponent out of the pocket than to
trap him in it.
From this general view of the bat
tie thus far, some officers drew the
conclusion that within another day or
Two at most. events would show clear
iy the purpose. If he is confident
that he now has the men and the re-
sources at hand to warrant challeng-
ng the enemy to fight it out to
finish, they expect to see new and tre-
mcndous battles break out on both
sides of the salient, south of Soissons
/; nd of Rheims. The lull today might
cover the shifting of allied reserves
for development of the successes al
ready won.
On the other hand, it was pointed
out, should General FOch feel that he
should still wait the coming of, more
American troops to give decided
ipreponderance in numbers, these Of
.ficers anticipated he would continue
to harry the retiring enemy flank and
front, exploiting his. present victories
10 the fullest possible extent and force
the enemy to decide upon making "a
stand. When that, line was reached
or approached, however, sudden
transfer allied offensive tactics to the
Ficardy or more probably the Flan-
ders front would be natural it was
said, while the fighting on the pres
ent active front below the Aisne
would die down to raids and local ac-
tions. e..
That the enemy has it in his power
to refuse decisive struggle and TO
continue his withdrawal until his line
has been Strengthened out and his