The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-08-10
MILITARY MEN
 PRAISE HIGHLY
 MARSHAL FOCH

Washington, Aug. 10.-American Army officials greeted with delight the news that the French-British forces had launched a smashing blow at the enemy on a wide front in the Picardy theatre. The full extent of the thrust was not discernible in mili- tary way at a late hour last night but the outstanding fact to observers here was that Field Marshal Foch found himself able to strike again on the heels of the victory at the Marne, which still is being pressed.
 The Supreme Commander has made it evident that he has the men and means to keep up the aggressive bat tie for which American officers have been desirous The reputation of the great French strategist is that he is the advocate of attacking the enemy without rest. He is living up to that reputation today as never before, and indications tonight were that he had ; scored another punishing surprise | blow on an enemy already staggering. under the rush that swept him out of the Marne salient in two weeks l time.
 | As the situation is seen here, the enemy now faces alternative opera tions on at least two fronts. Pres sure along the Vesle line is being maintained vigorously, and even while the new drive was getting under way on the Albert -Montdidier line to the north, French, American and British troops were hammering away between Soissons and Rheims in a manner that made it virtually certain that the Aisne-Vesle triangle would be cleared of the enemy shortly and the allied line here carried forward to the Aisne, or possibly across it.
 Around Soissons the French are all ready in position to outflank the line north of the Aisne, should occasion of fer, or to swing north and east and menace the Germans in the Picardy salient in the flank and rear.
 The enemy now faces the necessity of bolstering up his lines along the bottom of the Picardy salient without delay or undertaking immediately a great withdrawal there. If he with draws troops from the Aisne-VesIe line, it is certain he will be forced back there and, if he calls in the re- serves from the north, a British at tack to flatten out the Flanders sal tent is almost a certainty
 Secretary Baker said that the new program of the War Department of 5,000,000 men by next Spring was rec commended by the military section of the Supreme War Council at Yer sailles. From this was drawn the de- auction that these highly trained mili- tary students of all the allied nations :, and the United States, with all the facts before them. have reached the conclusion that with such an American force, coming on the pooled resources on the western front, were already sufficient to permit Marshal Foch to begin his effort to oust the enemy and destroy his military power.
 It was undoubtedly on this showing that the plan suggested of redoubling the American effort was promptly ap- proved by President Wilson and every resource of the nation in men or mon- Ny or supplies pledged to the great task.
 The decision, it is already known
 was reached late in July, after the bat tie to drive the Germans back from the Marne was so far progressed that a
 great victory was assured Secre-
 tary Baker said, however, that it had
 been under discussion for consider
 able time before that at Versailles
 This is taken to mean that the leaders
 at Versailles are sure of victory now
 on the cool basis of orga nized fight
 ing power, backed by limitless re-
 sources in war materials, and that the drive in Picardy brings that victory one step nearer.
 So far as known here no American , divisions were involved in the French British thrust south and southeast o1 : Amiens. American troops formerly ir the Cantigny sector, where the first American attack resulted In the cap. r ture or the town of Cantigny, are un. , derstooc to have been withdraw , many weeks aga and have been en gagged in the fighting in the Aisne , Marne salient. Some American unit.
 are brf6aded with British units, how : ever, and may be participating in tn,
 new blow. It is also possible tha Americans are with the French Firs Army.