The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-07-22
OFFENSIVE MAY
Be LAUNCHED
By General Foch in Neighbor-
hood of Rheims in Order
to Start
IA FLANKING MOVEMENT

i Washington, July 22.-With thu
| German retreat from Chateau Thier
ry and the Marne in full swing, Of
\ ficials here were watching report!
for indications that Gen. Foch nigh
launch new flank operations from thu
j vicinity of Rheims in order to breal
up the withdrawal and inflict tn,
maximum punishment on his beater
foe.
| General March and Secretary Bak
er were at the War Department un
til late last night and eager for ever,
word that came over press wires re
garding the progress Of the battle
Official reports were belated, and al
a late hour it was impossible to say
whether the enemy is going to gel
the majority Of his armies away by
sacrificing rear guard units.
The unofficial reports showed thai
a great stride forward had been made
by the Franco-American forces in the
Aisne-Marne front increasing the
danger in which the enemy stands OF
having a considerable force pocketed
and captured.
Under any circumstances it seems
certain that the enemy has already
suffered heavy losses in guns and
other war material. His main lines
of communication have either been
broken or are under shell fire.
Rear GUARD actions depend for
their success largely on holding the
enemy back with artilley fire until
the main body which is being protec-
ted has escaped. For that reason Ger
man losses in guns are almost certain
to be heavy as invariably many rear
guard batteries are unable to escape
the advancing foe.
The salient in which the Germans
appeared to stand tonight is still
sufficiently broad at the base to fur
nish way of escape if the commune
cation lines they have built up since
they invaded the region last May are
so placed as to fall in the center OF
the wedge. Their main rail COM
munication is already useless to them
as the Franco-American forces stand
along it at many points.
The appearance of British troops
on the Rheims side of the salient
may mean officials said that General
Foch is preparing to drive another
spearhead from that side as he is
forcing ahead a Franc0-American
thrust on the north western line be-
tween Scissors and Chateau Thierry
whenever the opportunity offers
Should he strike also from Rheims
it was regarded as probable that his
object would be primarily to get be-
hind any line that offers possibility
to the Germans of making stand
below the Aisne.
he enemy's defense of the north
hank of the Marine promises to col
lapse If the Franco-American ad-
vance from Chatteau-Thierry to the
east continues with the success with
which it was started. The German
forces are between two fires as this
movement advances on their right
flank and the moment they fall back
increased pressure will be brought
against them as the French cross the
river in pursuit. The allied lines are
steadily shortening as they press for
ward on all sides of the salient, CIV
ing them less front to hold and there
fore more men to concentrate at Sc
leced poins of attack.
The French advance toward Oul-
Ichy-Le- Chateau about midway ~be-
tween Scissors and Chateau Thierry
seems to hold large possibilities. This
spearhead thrust may throw the
whole German retirement south OF
that point into confusion. If French
and American guns are thrust for
ward far enough on this front to
command the German communica-
tion lines the plight of enemy divis-
ions retiring from the Marne would
be desperate.
German ocffAal statements continu
ed to be the most convincing evidence
of allied successes. They dared not
report the progress the allies are
i n, l,;ng and oouAnod thamua1vpa tt