The sun., 1918-08-09
ENEMY LURED
TO DISASTER
Marne Victory Is a Tribute to
Work of French Gem
eral Staff.
FOCH'S NERVE BIG ASSET
Foe Drive Failed to Shake
Master Strategist-Degoutte
Played Big Part.
FOCH'S NERVE BIG ASSET
ny GERALD CAMPBELL.


Specia! Cd6ie Despatch to TIE Sun from the
London Times.
Copyright. 1913: all rights reserred.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY, Aug. s.-A
review Of the tactics used by the French
and Americans in the great Marne vic
tory again emphasizes the value OF the
work Of the French General Stafr.
On July Is, when the German often
sive began. Gen. Degouttes position ex-
tended from Faverolles. sixteen miles
northwest OF Chateau Thierry, to Dor
mans eleven miles east. When, there
fore. he received oNIers from Gen Foch
to Join Mangn in n flank attack while
he was still occupied with stopping the
Germans advancing on the Marne his
line was shortened and part OF 1t taken
ever by Gen. Demitry.
Gen. Foch and Gen. Petain had de-
ciced upon a counter attack between the
Marne and the Aisne in July. and did
not allow themselves to be diverted from
that purpose by the German attack on
the Marine Weaker commanders might
have been alarmed. in winch event their
natural course would be to concentrate
all available electives behind the Marne
to stop the German push. Gen. Foch.
however, went ahead with his original
plans.
The Germans attacked on the 18th.
and on the 18th Mangin counter at
tackled with all available troops, instead
OF shifting them to defensive positions
south OF the Marne, and from that mo-
ment. which may prove to have been the
turning point OF the war; the initiative
Foch.
Degoutte's Part in Plan.
Gen. Degoutte had to carry out his
part in the counter attack and defend his
positions west OF Chateau Thlerry at the
same time. To do this he squeezed up
several divisions he had meant to use in
counter attack on the four mile front
between the Ourcq and Dallant rivers
and filled the hole thus made vacant
with American forces which had been in
training close by. He massed as much
OF his artillery as he could spare on the
left and besides his guns he had $50
tanks to count upon. Having no troops
cscheloned behind his attacking force he
was not able TO dispense with artillery
preparation. although 1t only lasted an
! hour and half.
The advance, always working from the
southwest to the northeast, went well
| and the troops on his right were able TO
move forward with attacking divisions
held in reserve On the 28th his line
| reached and crossed the Ourcq at Fere
| fifteen miles from his starting point. Then
after pause until August !. he attacked
again in concert with Gen. Mangin, and
In two bounds the whole force was
| astride the Ourcq west OF Fere. Gen
Mangins right didn't get on as quickly
as Gen. Degoutte's left. and there were
moments when his army was rather
held back because the plateaus of Chouy.
Butte and Chalmont were still in the
enemy's hands but on the whole the liai-
son between the two armies worked
we'll. especially after taking Butte and
| Chalmont.
The troops opposite Gen. Degouttes
army had made no real preparations for
resistance and though they had de-
fensive system consisting Of three lines
of trenches. their system was poorly or
ganized and ineffective. and the only
serious effort TO hold the French was
made by machine gun posts, So grea,
was the superiority Of the attack that
the Germans had to call up and throw
In front of Gen. Degoutte fifteen divi.
sions, four Of which probably had beer
sent by Crown Prince Rupprecht. who
altogether loaned about twenty divisions
during the last three months for use ir
| the Aisne-Marne salient.
Enemy Hard Pressed.
Every day there came fresh proof that
| the enemy was being hard hit and tha
Eanfinued ON Eikfh pnaA