Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-08
FOCH'S PSYCHOLOGY
MAKES GOOD ON TEST
Generalissimo Fully Calculated the
Mental Value of "Nibbling"
Before Big Strike.

Washington, ID. c., Aug. S.-Wide-
spread belief in this COUNTRY that the
present operations on the western front
have attained the proportions of real
Allied drive is not supported by infor-
nation In the possession of American
? military experts here. On the contrary,
War Department officials insist that
General Foch is merely carrying out
the plans he formulated even before
Ludendorf launched his main offensive
against the French and British armies
These plans, frequently referred to
In cabled reports as ''nibbling tactics,
have rs their object the wearing down
of the German war machine through a
process OF attrItlOn. They contemplate
also the grasping of every advantage
offered by changes in the battle lines to
put the enemy at a severe disadvantage.
Ii the German leaders should commit
a serious blunder. however, or If the
morale of the German armies should
suffer a sudden serious reduction, IT
goes without saying that Foch would
immediately convert his Fabian policy
into the major offensive which eventually
will bring complete victory to the Allies.
The directing genius of the French
British and American forces has, nc
cording to War Department experts
gwen repeated demonstrations of MS
intention to avoid a final test of strength
with the Central Powers until the arrival
of fresh millions from the United States
gives him an overwhelming advantage
over the Teutons. Every month that
passes marks 4 big increase in the strength
of the armies under his command and
an accompanying decrease in the German
military strength
The Allied armies are in far better
position 10 face delay of eight or ten
months before trying final conclusions
than are the forces of the Central Powers.
nder existing transportation arrange
ments. which are constantly improving,
the flow of troops to France Is accompanied
by steady stream Of food supplies and
war munitions for the coming winters
operations General Foch can afford
10 continue minor operations against the
enemy while steadily improving the morale
and lighting qualities OF the various ar
mics under his command.
The German army on the other hand,
aS well as the German Government, will
be = distinct disadvantage They will
suffer from inadequate supplies OF war
munitions, and viii be confronted con
s;antlv hv tho realization that the final
decisive battle against them IS merely
delayed The German Government,
which definitely promised the people of
the Teut0u nations that the war will
end this summer viii find itself exceeding
embarrassed in any attempt TO explain
winter defensive instead OF q summer
triumph.
1t Is not the psychology Of the situation
that enters into General Foch : calculation
l. is part OF his general plan 10 utilize
every opening IL = sustained attempt
10 force the German armies a far back
his summer and fall. as it IS possible
70 do without putting too severe a
strain on his own strength. II he can
force the enemy to dig In along lines well
back Of the starting point for the offensive
that began last March. he will add to the
difficulties Of the German general staff
by making il possible for them TO explain
a net loss en- the 1918 cmpaign, accom-
panied by casualty lists that will run |
anywhwere from one TO two millions. |
Every confidential report received BY |
the State Department proves the sound |
ness OF General Foch's plans 1t Is evi- |
dent that the Germans rs well as the |
AuStrlans. are thoroughly discouraged !
over the Outcomes OF widely advertised i
offensIves on two fronts that were con /
verted into crushing defeats for the Aus |
trian and the German armies. Conse- |
quently. when General Foch Is ready to |
launch his supreme offensive against the |
Central Powers next spring, the troops |
under his command, flushed with the |
certainty of victory, will find themselves |
oppose By forces that have been brooding
over an inevitable defeat. There ron-
sequentlv can be but one outcome.