Evening star., 1918-08-11
Foch Refuses to
Lessen Blows.

Foch Refuses to line of the vesle.
armies might be
Lessen BLOWS. in order that
brought up and reorsanized for fur
ther offensive endeavor. Foch did not
wait until the Germans had a chance
to once more strike. To have done so
would have been a serious loss to the
allies. as they once more would have
to go on the defensive.
Possibly anticipating the fact that
the German armies operating on the
general line stretching northward
from Montdidier had been largely de-
pleted of reserves in order to hold the
rapidly progressing allies between
scissors and Rheims, Foch hit hard
from a point below Arras to the east
of Amiens and to the northeast of
Montdidier. This blow was preceded
by other sharp. but important actions
on the Avre. Though a period of eN-
pectancy prevailed during the days
preceding the big allied blow. there
are indications that it took the Ger
mans unawares, for their retirement
amounted to more than six miles the
first day. They were unable abso-
lutely to stand before the impetuous
rush of French, British and Ameri-
can forces. At the present moment
the allies at some points have pene-
trated German positions to a depth
$4,000 prisoners and hundreds of
guns. Additional thousands of pris-
oners are in prospect
Gratifying as must be the allied
successes in this region. they must
not be measured Immediately by the
concrete evidences of victory. Foch's
operations chiefly are significant for
what they portend. Should allied
armies continue at the same rate of
progress they will have accomplished
of
the Germans did during the whole
period of their drive for Amiens.
From all Indications allied losses
will not approximate one-tenth of
the casualties suffered by the Ger
mans when they ushered in their Of
fensive endeavors-
The Germans have been forced out of
Montdidier and this would indicate that
the Germ n
WhoIe Tine armies occupy
Must Move Back. ming to the the east a
IN the general direction of Noyon soon
must start a retiring movement. mas
much as continued allied progress in the
present area of greatest conflict will
tend to leave an exceedingly sharp sa-
lent between Montdidier and Noyon
which would be suicidal to defend.
Though the allies have it within their
power to completely regain the ground
lost earlier in the year by virtue of tre
mendous German pressure. these opera
lions will not necessarily affect the
unquestioned that sooner or later major
battles will break in this region also
and all results of German offensive en-
deavor will be nulled-
Unquestionably the allied initiative
has tended to demoralize the morale of
the German soldier He is more fearful
than he ever has been before. Formerly
he was flushed with what he considered
victorious achievement. Now he has to
exist on the crumbs of defeat.
tendency to quit. In the allied mind
and heart there will be deeply i'm
planted determination to press on and
on The character of the two armies
has changed materially since the sue
cessful allied operations between
tends to confirm this opinion. The
Germans. when they do resist in the
future, will resist with the feeling
of despair. Any road over which the
allies strive to travel will be made
easier by virtue Of this very factor.
and as a result allied losses will be
less and gains greater.
Tho German command may be ex-
pected to attempt most strenuous re-
sistance to the allied advances. pos
sibly in the form Of counter offensive
movements at the moment when the
allied progress begins to slow down.
But the allies have proven their de-
fensive power and German ofenSives
no longer loom up as bugaboos. The
German has been found wanting, not
withstandfng his greatest and most
concerted endeavor. 1t is chiefly with
their, own initiative that the allied
command will dwell In the future and
. thsfe is every sign that instead of
lessan4ng It will increase daily.
Tho old days of trench warfare are
almost at an end. During the remain