Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-07
Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger
H.

Copyright. 1918. by Nep York Times co.
With the French Armies, Aug. 7.
In a dainty study, the gilded furni-
ture and delicate ornaments of which
contrasted strangely with the staff
maps. marked with colored chalk lines.
and shell fuses, paper weight and field
telephone on the desk, General Man.
gin gave your correspondent a de-
sCription of the battle which one of
the highest of Frances war chiefs told
me few days ago marked the turning
point of the war.
The general stood squarely before
the maps. motionless. save for a quick
glance at my face now and then as If
to emphasize the salient point of his
narrative.
Like all the distinguished French
soldiers I have met, he was devoid Of
gestures. These are popularity sup.
posed to be essential to Frenchmen.
TT was a regular classic battle Of
maneuver." he said. THE battle
opened with the driving back of the
enemy's line ten kilometers in the first
two days under the shock of sudden
attack. Then he brought up reserves
and rallied
After that the objective was clear
and definite. 1t was the eastern end
of the long ledge that runs unbroken
save by the Saviere Valley from west
Of NillerS. .Cotterets Forest to the re.
gion of Grand RoZoy and Arcy.
THAT was the KEY position Of the
struggle. as it dominated the north.
western plateau toward Soissons
which was the bastion Of the enemy's
resistance. Once the master Of that
on August .. the enemy's retreat was
battle was won"
Situation Before the Battle
Before discussing the details of the
action. the general situation previous
to July Is can be stated as follows:
"It is hardly doubtful that the
Chemin.des- Danes drive of May 81
was not only intended to carry the
Germans beyond the Aisne. Their
purpose was to get a strong defensive
position. in view of a possible flank
attack during later operations against
the center of the French. British line
in pursuance Of the plan carried out
in the March battle. Rightly enough
finding the resistance less than they
expected. they exploited their success
to the utmost. and finally reached the
Marine That formed deep and com
parativelv narrow pocket. the essen
tial weakness of which Exposure tc
an attack from the western f1ank) nc
soldier could ignore.
"Thev accordingly attempted tc
widen it westward without much sue.
cess, save in the north. whore the
occupation of Scissors rave them di
rect railroad communication from
Laon to the lines along the Aisne
land Vesle and to Fere-en-Tardenois
and broad, high road to Chateau
! Thierry."
The drive toward Compiegne about
ten days later was a pendant to the
former action, the object being to fiat
ten out the salient by turning move
ment round the forests of Compiegne
and Nillers-Cotterets. Checked there
by the June counter.attack which
Manein comma nded on the left of the
battlefront, the enemy launched a new
blow.
This was made on the following day
against the northeast corner Of the
| NillerS-Cotterets Forest. but again the
! advance waJ strictly limited and the
angle of the pocket remained acute.
Mangin Takes Command
| Soon afterward Mangin took com
mand of the army. holding the from
from the Aisne to the Ourcq. and pro
ceeded vigorously with preliminar,
operations in view of counter.strok'
against the flank of the salient which
the French high command had alread!
decided to make at the first Favorable
opportunity.
The work of preparation for Foch'
great counter.offensive consisted il
gradually driving the enemy bacl
from the line of Ambleny, Courver
and Montgobert and the eastern firing
of the forest of Nillers-Cotterets in
series of successful local actions, an
finally in getting a footing across tn
Saviere Valley, which afforded an ad
miracle "jumping-off place" Attack