Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-16
Genius begins great works. Ia
Dor aione finishes them.-Joubert.
Rrsakins the German Morale.

dispatches under them give cheer
The British are holding the most ter
rife onslaughts by the enemy they
haven, given an inch since Gen.
Haig's order TO hold, the French are
contenting themselves with compli-
mentary acceptance OF all that the
enemy offers along their front and
giving odds In weight of metal sent
back. while the Americans arc not
only holding but they are engaging
the picked forces sent against them
in hand to- hand combat and coming
OF victorious.
lust how horrible such fields Of
carnage are. please God we may
never fully realize. We have only to
exercise our Imagination to get pic
ture enough. When the matterof-
fact cable bulletin reads that fire.
quently the German advance has
been checked by barriers of piled-up
bodies OF the comrades who preceded
them, we may shut off the mind film
and ask to be spared the rest of the
picture.
That Is the kind OF warfare being
wsged after three weeks OF the Hin
denburg drive. IL would seem that II
could last not many days longer: that
flesh and blood at the disposal of the
war masters must give out; that the
morale OF fghting men who sec
thousands OF their comrades go down
TO death every day must break some
time.
In the latter days Of last week,
when Americans everywhere were
shaking their heads In doubt. because
the allied lines appeared unable to
hold the fierce assaults OF tho enemy
and not word was heard from
Gen. Foch and his much talked of
army OF maneuver'-a young officer
at an army camp In the South wrote
his parents:
'Foch Is playing his own game,
Dad. as sure as the world. The Ger
mans are playing his game. too, and
they're beginning to realize thence
their desperate attacks to drive
salients around Vimy Ridge and force
che Canadians to evacuate. From
what little can guess at the tactics
OF Foch's plan and the general
scheme OF the Germans. I think that
Foch's being placed in general com
mand Is the greatest victory of the
war-worth more than all the Ger
man gains.
Who won the Marne when the
British crumpled in their attempt to
turn the flank? Foch. Who ignored
orders and iron bound precedent and
attacked In the center with his artil.
isry In front Of his infantry when his
line seemed certain to break! Foch.
Who marched day and night to beat
the Germans 10 their great objective
in their rush 70 the sea and attempt
to turn the British flank: Foch. Gee,
Dad, He's a TERROR on wheels. In
my humble opinion he Is greater than
Grand Duke Nicholas. and that's the
t.word In seneralship. isn't 1t?
There are two big and somewhat
similar elements in offensive and de-
fensive warfare-tactios Immediate
and local maneuvers) and strategy
Ia general. immense plan with a view
20 the future).
The time has passed for tactics.
\ tactical counter attack il logically
made At the time when the enemy
forces are elongated-thr in be-
yond the best efforts Of artillery and
supplies and lines OF communication
Foch will not strike until the blow
viii be decisive--until his force will
he ovcrpowering- the German
~ HiVHItuAaN V'dhtItSS Ut
point Fuch can reach with his
creates, strength al the psychological
moment.
Just now. and, probably. for many
DAYS. he'll hc content 10 give up
valueless ground for German slauvh-
ter. Then. when German morale In
cracking. when they break a little
here or there. comes Foch with his
fearful crushing blow.
something probably the condI-
tions in the country behind them
drove the Germans TO attack. And
now they must keep or. They have
won nothing. They have been slain
BY Thousands. They eant 90 back.
They can't remain. They CANE 40
ahead much longer. What 10 the
logical eenelusisn7"
The gist OF this young ofYicer's con-
illusions from a practical study Of re-
ported conditions. his knowledge Of
tactics and strategy. and the record
81 Gen. Foch. IL that the Germans
81