The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-03
ALLIES HOPES RAISED
Success On Yesterday
Presages Foch $ Cut
ting Off Germans.
E N E M Y BAFFLED
Complete Exploitation of
Marine Salient Will Be
Event Epochal in
History.
E N E M Y BAFFLED

" AUX Nv taAA
scissors and the capture of Nhie-en-
TarGenois. reported from Paris late
today, again raised hope among allied
military experts here that o. ~ ~
Foch has sent the German right va &.
battered and torn, swirlinG back~ u
into the congested center of the Aisne-
Marine salient and that the allies, by
rapid stroke may yet cut of the
flower of the German army.
In itself, scissors Mt the moment il
of slight value to the allies. u Is said.
The French troops investing il from
the south and southwest, have for days
held IL under fire and could have re-
taken IL many times. Their delay was
Id to be due TO the fact that heights
to the north also dominate the city and
French officers here have eontented
that long the German line 10 the
south held. the taking of sois~ons
w ould occur only In conjunction with
an allied thrust TO the northwest of
the city, which would be taken only
when the French bad cleared the
northern heights of Germans and had
cut the city off from the north.
1t would appear that scissors has
been taken because the German right
wing to the south has been withdrawn
from strong points and because the
French are now ready to- use the rail-
way lines and highways centertng
there IN bringing about better trans
pert service TO the troops Moldfng the
allied left fank. The capture of VILE
en-Tardenois clearly 81 the first move
of the left flank to retire upon the
NeaIe.
Despite the fact that the continue d
pressure exerred NY General Foch upon
the retreatinG armies of the crown
prince has given rsse to the poSslbti-
ity of "a sudden break Ina the en@mF'a
defense. the opinion is held here there
Is no reason TO believe the retreat lie
becoming a rout.
1t In held that complete exploitation
of the victory of the Marine salient will
represent an achievement epochai in
the history of the war. offensive ac-
tions at other points of the western
front are not looked for.
An American colonel. occupying IA
high position on the military stan. sta
toned In Washington and who was at
taehed for many months to the Brit
ish army In France. explained tosIa v
many features OF the allied strategy.
which have been eieuded m the ey~s
of the iaymen, He said;
THE pubic must NOT chafe at what
must appear times TO he wholly
Inadequate explanation of the sttua =
ttons of battle from, day 10 day. II
must he emphasized thar battles ore
NOT won IN tBS$t uASR Oy hShs -
ments or brigades. All battles new
are planned and carried out with tire
army division as the unit of the weap-
aas employed. In many ways the bat
tie is fought much ms a game az chess
or checkers Ar played Ii would be N
simple matter for the public. for in
stance TO understand the progress of "A
eame of checker IL they were told the
position of each checker on the board.
r~ Aa Ira, IN N In
the exact strategic situation If we know
where General Foch had placed each
division. nut that is a secret, whic h
of all military secrets, most closely
guarded.
.sNewSraper correspondents and nail
ttary attaches TO army headquarters in
France daily see maps which give the
loo cation of every German disision. Al
least these maps show where the al
lied leaders believe the Germans TO he
posted. But the mans showing th~ To-
cation of the allied divisions are so
closely guarded that 1T Ia no exaGEe =
ration 10 say that they never see the
light of day except when a conference
of leaders is held at headquarters.
..It In surprising to many of our eiti-
xens at this time that the men in high
commands are not making move
against the Germans ut some other
point in the line. For eight weeks
past we have been reading daily al
many raids and attacks ny the allies
II we were to compare .h~ number q
operations, the total Of posts taken
trench lines gained. prisoners captured
and war materials brought In with
the similar facts of the Germans. II
might appear that we hold the control
In every sector along the entire front
1.-THE public nsks. why do the Ger
mans permit this daily nfbbliuE which
the British and French north Of ths
present fightinE arena appear 10 he sc
easily accomplishment
1.-THE public wants to know why such
and such . push was not mnde when
the enemy seemed to he affOrdinx &
tempting hank to our blow, why such
and sueh \ counter . fensive was not
executed when the enemy In . certain
SECTOR appears to be very weak or to
have suffered heavily.
"The answer TO this IL that the allies
now hold the balance Of power II
the averment that time II on our
side was true. that time n now. when
Russia collapsed time was with Ger
many. But with America's entrapcs
the tide In turned again. II In now the
Germans who must hurry and press fou
decisaop.