The Washington herald., 1918-07-24
FOCH HAS WON
UPPER HAND,
OPINION HERE
BY Capture Of Oulchy de
Chateau Allies Control
Strong Position.

The fall Of oulchy de Chateau to
the French forces yesterday caused
deep satisfaction among military sx-
perts here, but this news was for tfra
moment forgotten when reports wera
received that the French had smashed
the German lines TO the northwest o.
Montdiddier for a gain OF two miles.
1T is now apparent to- all that
Gen. Foch has the upper hand" said
a prominent French officer. Where
he may strike next lie an interesting
question; but happily 1t Is Of far more
moment to the German general stAfi
than II is to the allies. for the Prus-
sian leaders have their hands full IN
stemming the tide of the allied sd-
vance across the Marne, and II Gen.
Foch now begins to hurry them with
feinting attacks at widely separated
points Of the front, the time will u
be long before the entire German
army will be demoralized by uncer-
tainty and dread"
Allies Control Railroad
From advices from many sources
correlated by allied military attaches
here, ii is now clear that the Ger
mans can not hope to retain any
ground south OF the Vesle river. By
the capture Of Oulchy de Chateau and
its nearby heights the allies control
the single railroad which runs north
TO the Vesle. This line can be used
from Fere-en-Tardenois north TO the
new German line. " the allied avia-
tors have not blown IL TO bits long
before this time. A series OF small
a
ing northwest from the western side
Of the salient also can be used by
the Germans in speeding up the
evacuation Of the salient
The outstanding point in the days
news. however. is considered here 20
be the increasing evidence that the
allies have theoretically assumed the
offensive all along the line and that
there is reason 10 expect new drives
and feints TO be launched at almost
any place or time.
An American officer who recently re-
turned from the front said: The Ger
mans must now assume the defensive.
In other words they are forced TO the
position of being called upon TO find out
where the next great thrust will BE-
attempted. 1t means that the test Of
mobility, the test OF rapid transporta-
tion will be now made upon the RAFT
and motor services Of the Germans.
The war is entering It's crucial phase -
NJ. E de Billy, deputy high COM
missioner Of France in the United
States. yesterday reviewed the success
OF the allied counter-offensive OF the
past week. He said:
Line Pushed Forward.
The French and Americans have
crossed the Marne and have pushed
the Germans back to the line OF Re-
court-St. Martin. Epieds. Charters
! a I'd ChateauThierry, taking about
J 1000 prisoners. and 900 machine guns
/ in this district
The enemy is still opposing a des
perate resistance and throws continu'
| ously new divisions into the battle
| His main effort is directed on th'
wings where he is endeavoTing a
maintain his positions at any pric,
in order 10 save the troops engaged o.
I the Marne. but already the GerTna
! counter attacks led by fresh division
south OF Scissors have been checkc''
by the French and American troop,
| fighting in close touch: and new enem,
! attacks between Rheims and the Ar
gorne have also entirely failed.
Thus it seems that the German
will have to retreat further north %
the Marine and that the allied success
may still be pushed further on"
After studying the latest dispatche
decoded at the War Department. Sec
retary Baker said late yesterday
The situation is generally good an
the progress OF the attacks are salts
factory"