The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-23
ALLIED FORCES
BATTER GERMAN
ARMS To PIECES
Drives Are Ceaseless in
Many Sectors, Coming
in Sudden Blows.
COOL STEADY GAIN
r och Avoids Mistake Of
Over-Developing His
Initial Smashes AS
He Proceeds.
COOL STEADY GAIN

rnris. AuE. @2.--NarshaI Foch ts
SLOWLY. hHtterina Germans arms so
pieces,
RemorseiessIy. ceaseIes~,y, the al
lied genernIissirno has been driv-
Ing home attack after attack In
vsrious sectors, occasionally inter
ninriing British, French and Amer
lean troops. since July Is when
French and Americans attacked be-
tween the Aisne and the Marnc.
LudendorT has been continually
Scheming and planning at attempt
tn rctske the power of the initfn-
tive which amounts tn ~ pr cent
MT least, in deciding the campaign.
1t WAS Hindenhurg who ordered the
German crown prince to withdraw from
the Marne salient when the Franco
American pressure nensced Scissors
He hoped then 70 retrieve enough di-
visions TO reeommence the drive else
whero and regain the initiative which
nc assumed. en- Afaxlh 81
But before that withdrawal was COM
between scissors and Rheims. relea sin &
a certain number of troops, HatE and
Deheny struck the Amiens salient on
August s. General Hum bert following
at Nontdidter. and then Nangfn, who
had been shifted northward from the
Aisne- Marine battlefield. thrust back
the Germans in the region where they
were nearest 10 Paris, and now the
British are striking between Albert and
Arras.
Foeh'~ superb Head work.
Nowhere Is Foch repeating Luden-
dorT's mistake Of trying 10 over
develop his gains. such as following
up too closely and too swiftly, his tni-
tiaf smash.
The allies aim is simply that Of shat
tering the German army. II is not
question of driving the Germans back
to the Rhine or any other strong natu-
raj defense line.
Hindenhurg now has 2os divisions out
of total Of 241 in line. The Russian
situation requires the presence In the
east OF a certain number OF troops.
Some Of these a0s divisions have been
badly cut up. as for instance those now
under the command OF the duke Of
Wuertter7b berg which were transferred
to the North after they had been
grueiled under Rupprecht or Frederick
William. or both,
HIndenburg hoped that there would
he a let-up in the allies hammering
tactics after thy had recaptured Mont
didier and that ne thus would be
enabled TO gain time for the tncorpors-
ton in his army Of the 1890 class, COM
prising half a million youths, along
with other units. as these fresh classes
cannot he used without plenty Of stiff
fleming nv seasoned troops.
Craselesx, Relentless Attacks.
- "a
attacks do not even permit temporary
withdrawal Of experienced G e m a n
units for the absorption of the young
sters of the 1890 class.
1t Is estimated that SIS per cent Of
Germany's electives are concentrated
between the North sea and the Cham
payne. with the only relief from the
allied shellare being offered by four
or five days withdrawal from the line.
hut with virtually all these forces ex-
posed 70 day and night bombing and
long range Smelling,
The situation which the kaiser
faces today IL more serious even
than II was I'm the autumn of 1910
during the Iuii of the Somme bat
tie which permitted the transfer OF
shattered divisions from the Rus
sian front and the careful with
drnwal to the Hindenburg line.
Foch has the strenath. the will
and the power to persevere In his
attacks despite iosses--for the al
lies are not gaining bfoodless vic
tories--but he realizes and capital
ICES the fact that Americans are ar
irving mt n rate Of 3O0.0OO monthly
which means a daily Influx to the
allied forces of approximately the
str<uxth of one German division.
whereas the enemy II weakening
with every day.
! Hindenburg has lost the fnftfn-
| tive forever and Foch will not per-
/ nit any period of rest while the
enemy L. reeling under the effect
of the hammer biows already tn-
hirted ON him.