The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-10
FOCH PREPARES FOR
FINAL BIG OFFENSIVE
SIGNIFICANT ARTICLE BY
GENERALISSIMO SHOWS
HE is OPTIMISTIC.

London, June iO.-l nat battles
can be won in the end only by the
army which takes the offensive is
the significant declaration made by
General Foch. commander in chief
OF the allies. iii an important arti-
Gle contributed by him to the Week
" Journal in which he discusses
the problem OF the soldier and the
way to victory.
Modern warfare, to arrive at its
end and to impose its will on the
enemy" says General Foch, "recog-
nizes only one means-destruction
OF the enemyS organized forces.
"War undertakes and prepares
this destruction by battle which
brings about the overthrow Of the
adversary, disorganizes his COM
mand, destroys his discipline and
nulliies his units as far as their
fighting power is concerned.
Our first axiom must be that
completely to achieve its object, a
battle must not be purely defensive.
A purely defensive battle, even we'll
conducted, does not result in a VIC
tor and vanquished. 1t is simply
a game that must be begun over
again.
Must Be Offensive at Finish.
From this it is an obvious corol-
larry that an offensive. whether
started at the beginning of an ac
ton or whether ii follows the de
fensive, can only give results and in
consequence must always be adopt
ed at the finish,
ITO maintain our position is not
synonymous with being victorious
and even prepares Tor a defeat. II
We remain where we are and do
not pass to the offensive to fix the
direction of attack, to guard against
the plans OF the enemy and prevent
him from carrying out the same
maneuyer We must undertake TO
carry on and sustain numerous
combats each with determined aim.
But since there remains no
doubt that decisive attack is the
very Keystone OF battle, all other
actions which make up a battle
must be envisaged, considered, or
ganized, provided with force III the
measure in which they will prepare,
facilitate and guarantee develop
nent OF a decisive attack character ,
zed By its mass. its surprise, its.
,peed and lor which, in consequence :
{ i, essential that there shall be
he maximum reserve force posi-
de OF troops maneuvered. The re
crve-that is to say the prepared =,
)ludgeon-is TO be organized and -
.ept carefully instructed to execute >
he single act OF battle from which
-esults are expected, namely, the d
decisive attack. 4
Reserves Must Be Husbanded. {
Reserves mast be huSbanded with n
he most extreme parsimony, 50 h
hat the bludgcon may be strong s
nough to make the blow as violent
5 possible. Let loose at the fin n
sh without any lurking idea OF il
aving them, with a well thought II
ut plan for winning the battle at a
oint chosen and determined. re- {
eryes are thrown in all together in a
n action surprising in violence and "
nergy and Ill other phases OF bat o
e, an action with proper charac- ci
.riStics-surprise. mass and speed. st
III our forces really participate, al
ther by preparing it OF by carrying m
Ut. at
In this. our supreme aim. We :"
lu,t not be deceived by appear 81
nee. Although theory fails when !"
Dplied by feeble hands and when &C
'Cessories obscure the main prin- q
pie. history and reason show Us ~ ~
.at in battle there Is single argu -
~ which is worth while. namely.
i-i,c attack. which is alone cap I
oi assuring the desired results
O.. ,Nsrr "a hr,,,- .t IA. ,J,aru,r,.