The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-20
ALLIES GREAT .TYPH0OA
Yanks and Poilus Keep
Pummelling and Bat
tering Boches.
FRITZ" STILL OUT
Bewildered Hun Is Be-
ween Two Fires, With
Third Flaring Up
Near Marne.

With the Americans AT the Marine,
July 19.-The Franco American ty-
phoon that blew the life out OF the
kaiser's "friedcnsturnl" tstorn OF
pcace) RACES on with impetuous fury.
Fritz has not yet recovered from the
initial wallop, and while he Is still
rubbing his eyes, as IL were, wonder
ing whence this rude awakening came.
the Ianks and Poilus keep punmel-
ling and battcring and smashing away
at him on the whole twent Gig lat mile
front between the Aisne and Marine.
Not only that, but a new storm has
taken the shaky Teuton machine from
the rear, between the Marine and
Rheims, where up TO yesterday II was
ploughing forward with measure BILE
SUCCESS against the last artery feeding
the life blood OF the Cathedral City's
defense. On that side the French and
Americans were exceedingly hard
pressed when Eoch gave the signal
for the great hanking thrust. Yester-
days smashing advance in this drive
has given new cheer and new strength
TO the defenders OF Rheims. and now
the bewildered German Is between
two Ares, with a third fiaring up to-
day on the south, below the Marine
The tactics FNoch is applying now
are designed to bite of the whole great
German wedge south Of the Aisne and
TO deprive the invader of every bit of
ground he gained in that ambitious
drive TO the Marine In May ne well as
of the local gains lie made In the offen-
sive that was superseded by Foch's
counter-drdye.
The chief subject OF talk and marvel
along this front still is the revolution
airy manner in which Foch ushered in
k,fa Il ,tek~
ton. Only once before this had been
attempted On such a scale, and that
time 1t resulted in disaster. Ii was
when Nivelle launched his great gun
less Champagne drive that cost such
terrible sacrifices to France and the
loss of his command to him. Since
then the military world had fostered
the conviction that sit can't be done'
Foch has shattered II overnight; he
has shown that it CAN BE DONE.
True. the length OF artillery prcpar-
alton for great offensives had been
reduced. Prior TO ''Eingo"
Byng's Cambria attack never a ma jor-
scale drive has been launched with
out at least a full weeks terrific, con-
gun-drunming. Then Byng
reduced It to scarce four hours
bOmbardment. The Germans were
quick to snap up the idea and have
used IL constantly since. 1t was one
Of those surprises culled from the al
lies, like the tanks.
But in the blow that turned the
tables on the Germans yesterday
morning. Foch dispensed altogether
with the preliminary destructive fire.
Speed in organizing the drive and ut
most secrecy OF the preparations
weighed more. he realized. than an
earth shaking cannonading that Is
equivalent to saying to the enemy:
Look out I'm going to start some
thing!'
Foch's warning was delivered .'per-
sonally" by French and American
storners rushing in and overrunning
the German first and second lines. 1t
was . bold. a daring enterprise, but
daring at the right time Is one Of the
Prerequisites Of gencralship such as
qualified Foch to- take upon his
shoulders the sole responsibility OF the
allied cause.
Instead OF blocking his supply lines
with ammunition transport. always a
precarious undertaking when secrecy